Arizona Child Support Payments

In Arizona, child support disbursements are managed by the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) under the Department of Economic Security. Child support orders require parents to financially support their children until age 18, or 19 if still in high school.

Child support payments are calculated using an income shares model, which considers both parents’ incomes. Arizona enforces court-ordered payments through income withholding, but alternative methods like online or phone payments exist. Non-payment can lead to enforcement actions, ensuring the child’s needs are met.

This article will examine how the state does its best to ensure every child receives the same level of financial support they would have if both their parents were raising them under the same roof. Read on to learn about child support payments in Arizona.

Arizona Child Support Payments – Child Support Basics

The administration of child support by the states became federal law under Title IV-D of the 1975 Social Security Act. In any situation where children are not going to be raised in a two-parent household, child support is required. This can result from divorce, child custody hearings, or a birth parent petitioning for child support from the other birth parent.

Parents are required to provide for their children until the last day of their 18th birthday month. If the child hasn’t graduated from high school at that age, the obligation extends until the 19th birthday or the child graduates from high school. Emancipation also ends all child support requirements. Parenting time affects the amount of child support a parent is obligated to pay.

The process for determining child support payments requires full financial disclosure from both parents. The Arizona child support guidelines use an income shares model for their calculations. This system bases child support payments on the amount of income generated by both parents and how much would have been spent on the children if they were raising them together.

Child support orders are created to meet the needs of the child. These necessities fall into three basic categories:

• General support: Food, clothes, shelter/mortgage/rents
• Medical support: Medical expenses, health care, health insurance, dental expenses
• Childcare support: Childcare costs, daycare costs

The person who has physical custody of the children the most is the custodial parent. The non-custodial parent can also have physical custody of the children. The number of days they have the kids each year reduces their child support obligation. In most instances, the non-custodial parent makes child support payments to the custodial parent. These go through the DCSS.

In addition to receiving and paying out child support payments, the DCSS is responsible for pursuing parents in arrears (behind on payments), helping parents determine paternity, and for modification requests that aren’t handled by the courts.

Arizona child support payments are due every month. While smaller payments that add up to the required amount are permitted, this isn’t possible with some payment methods. Parents who can meet their child support obligation but choose not to will discover that Arizona is serious about enforcement. The state stands behind its child support orders.

Arizona Child Support Payments – How To Make a Payment

For most people paying child support (the payors), there’s no choice in how the payment is collected. Arizona uses income withholding as the default method of child support obligation fulfillment. Under an income withholding order (IWO), employers are required to deduct the child support amount from the parent’s paycheck. The funds are then sent to the DCSS.

If at least two months’ worth of payments are in arrears when the IWO is issued, an additional fee of at least 25% of the regular payment amount is applicable to collect on overdue payments. Employers must abide by an IWO.

Business owners, the self-employed, and others without income from an employer can make payments through other methods. Parents can fulfill their child support obligation via any of the following:

• In-person payment: Find a participating retailer (CVS, 7/11, or Family Dollar), DCSS office, or attorney’s office near you and pay with your PayInCashNow slip ($2.49 fee applies on non-DCSS payments)
• Online payment: Pay through the Payment Gateway or iPay
• Mobile device payment: Pay through the TouchPay app (2.85% fee applies)
• Payment by mail: Send a check, money order, or cashier’s check to Support Payment Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 52107, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2107
• Payment by phone: Payments by calling phone number 602-252-4045, 800-882-4151, or 888-585-7942 will work (no fees)

Those making voluntary payments face enforcement by the DCSS if they fall into arrears. While incarceration is possible, it’s a last resort. The goal is to get the money owed to the child. The DCSS can intercept income tax refunds, seize lottery winnings, access bank accounts, and use other methods to collect overdue payments. The other parent can file a complaint in court as well.

Parents making child support payments should alert the DCSS if their obligation takes their income below the self-support (poverty) reserve. This is set at 80% of pay at the state minimum wage each month. DCSS customer service will work with parents struggling to meet their obligations.

Arizona Child Support Payments – Receiving Child Support Payments

It’s presumed that the custodial parent’s share of child support is used for direct expenditures during the time the child spends in their physical custody. The rest of the child support obligation often comes from the non-custodial parent. All child support payments are overseen by the DCSS.

Recipients can receive child support payments in one of two ways. Payments are available as a direct deposit into a bank account. Parents can start, stop, or change the direct deposit by filling out a form in either English or Spanish. Visiting a DCSS office with the proper identification works as well.

Parents also have the option of having payments deposited on a Way2Go Prepaid Mastercard (Comerica Bank). There’s no fee for this unless you use an ATM that’s out of network ($0.75 per transaction).

Under federal law, the DCSS is required to charge $35 for a new account that has received over $500 in a year. Other years have possible fees capped at $25.

Arizona Child Support Payments – Reference

Child support payments are a crucial part of providing for one’s children. The table below recaps the important information in this article and includes links for further research.

Disclaimer: Arizona state laws change through the passage of ballot initiatives, new legislation, higher court rulings that include federal decisions, and other means. While we strive to provide the most up-to-date legal information available, please consult a family law attorney to confirm current Arizona laws.

Arizona Child Support Payments: Related Resources

• AZCARES Child Support Portal (DES)(DCSS)
• Methods for Paying Child Support in Arizona (DCSS)
• Arizona Child Support Enforcement Laws
• Arizona Child Support Calculations
• Arizona Child Support Guidelines

Issues With Child Support Payments in Arizona? Speak to an Attorney

The amount of child support being paid can seem like too much to one parent and too little to the other. Getting legal advice on payments in your child support case is never a bad idea. An Arizona child support attorney can help you solve your child support payment issues and represent you in the superior court of the state of Arizona if required.