Setting fair and reasonable child support should be a simple and straightforward issue. Washington has adopted a child support formula based solely on the net incomes of both parents. You simply insert the incomes into the formula, and it generates the correct support obligation. The court must follow this formula in all but extreme circumstances.
However, no government formula is perfect or applicable to all situations. A devious spouse can manipulate their taxable income and try to inflate yours. The inclusion of the cost for private schools, special lessons, and sports are not automatic. Determining what is a valid “special needs” child can be subjective. Educational expenses after high school can be a huge variable. The cost of children from prior and future relationships can defeat the formula.
All of these external factors must be considered and dealt with when setting a fair and reasonable support obligation. Child support will have a significant impact of the financial well-being of both homes after divorce. It is important to have a proper determination of child support based on real economic facts, not false data and misrepresentations.
One of the longest lasting financial consequences of a divorce, child support, is not set by personal preference or by whim of the court. By Washington state statute, child support is calculated based on a statewide schedule adopted by the Legislature. It is a complex system. Many parents will need help understanding what counts as income and what exceptions are allowed for deviation.
Calculating Child Support
Child support laws in the state of Washington are designed to make sure the financial needs of the children are met. Each parent has a legal duty to provide support. In most cases, the children are primarily residing with one parent. The other parent then pays child support to the parent with whom the children live the majority of the time. Even with 50/50 shared custody, the economically stronger spouse will be ordered to pay child support to the economically weaker spouse.
Unfortunately, no automatic formula can consider all of the relevant facts. The schedule only works fairly when honest and accurate information is provided. It is up to the parties involved (and their lawyers) to make certain accurate income information is used, and compelling facts affecting child support payments are explained to the court. Income and expense information must be thoroughly discussed with your attorney.
Online Calculator
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services provides an online Support Calculator (this link opens a new window). This resource can help you approximate your child support, but the projection is only as accurate as the information put into the formula. In certain special situations, the court can deviate from the state formula calculations. You will need to discuss any proposed deviation with your attorney and build your case appropriately.
Imputed Income
The court requires proof of income in order to determine child support. If the court does not receive adequate documentation, or if it believes a parent is intentionally unemployed or underemployed, the court can impute income. The court assigns an income level to that parent for the purpose of child support calculation regardless of the parent’s current actual income. It is important to supply all necessary income information to your attorney and to the court. If the court imputes income, that parent will pay more in child support.
If you are self-employed, own a business, or your income is commission-based, it is important your income is correctly reported to the court. If your income is not properly documented and explained to the court you could end up paying more in child support than is required. An experienced Washington family law attorney can help you prepare the child support schedule and make sure your income is properly documented and reported.
Can Child Support be Changed?
Once an order of child support is issued by the court it can only be changed through a “modification”. This involves filing a petition to modify with the court and appearing at a hearing. A request for modification can be made after the support order has been in place for one year or if there has been “a substantial change in circumstances” such as changes in income or loss of employment. The changing ages of the children will also change the amount of support. Find more about Washington Divorce Modification.
Support Enforcement
Keep in mind the government takes child support enforcement very seriously. There are massive consequences to evading child support, enforceable by law. These include state and federal income tax offset, liens on real or personal property owned by the debtor, freezing of bank accounts, orders to withhold and deliver property to satisfy the debt, passport denial, or seizure and sale of property with the proceeds from the sale applied to the support debt.
To read more on child support enforcement, the U.S. Department of Child Support Enforcement has provided this helpful PDF “Handbook on Child Support Enforcement.”
