One of the first questions I hear from parents is, "How much child support am I going to pay, or receive?" It's a fair question. Support affects your monthly budget for years, and not knowing the number can make an already stressful time feel worse.
The good news is that child support in Arizona is not a guessing game. The Arizona Child Support Guidelines set out a formula, and most of the work is gathering the right numbers. Here's how it works.
The Guidelines Are Based on Both Parents' Income
Arizona uses an "income shares" model. The idea is simple: a child should get the same share of parental income they would have received if the family had stayed together. The court adds both parents' incomes, looks up a basic support amount on the Guidelines schedule, and then splits that amount between the parents based on each one's share of the combined income. So if one parent earns 60% of the combined income, that parent is responsible for about 60% of the child's support.
What Counts as Income?
The Guidelines start with gross income, which is your income before taxes. That includes wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, and many types of benefits.
If a parent is unemployed or working below their ability without a good reason, the court can "attribute" income to them. In other words, the court can calculate support based on what that parent could reasonably earn, not just what they're currently earning. (I covered this in more detail in my post on what happens to child support when a parent quits or takes a pay cut.) A new spouse's income generally isn't counted as income to the parent.
Parenting Time Matters
The more time a parent spends with the child, the more that parent is already paying directly for food, housing, and day-to-day costs. The Guidelines account for this with a parenting time adjustment, based mostly on the number of days each parent has. One common misconception: equal parenting time does not automatically mean zero child support. If one parent earns significantly more than the other, support may still be owed even with a 50/50 schedule.
Add-Ons: Insurance, Childcare, and Other Costs
After the basic amount is calculated, certain costs are added and shared between the parents. These typically include:
The cost of the children's health, dental, and vision insurance
Work-related childcare
Certain extraordinary expenses, such as costs for a child with special needs or, in some cases, private school
The Guidelines also include an adjustment for children age 12 and older, reflecting the higher cost of raising older kids.
Can the Court Go Above or Below the Guidelines?
Yes, but it's the exception. A judge can "deviate" from the Guidelines amount if applying the formula would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case. When that happens, the court has to explain why on the record. Parents can also agree to a different amount, but the court still has to approve it and find that it's in the child's best interests.
How Long Does Child Support Last?
In Arizona, child support generally continues until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school, support usually continues until graduation, but not past age 19. Support for an adult child with a severe disability can continue longer in some circumstances.
Can Child Support Be Changed Later?
Yes. Under A.R.S. § 25-327, either parent can ask to modify support if there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. As a general guideline, a change that would move the support amount by 15% or more is often treated as substantial. Changes typically apply going forward from the date the request is filed, so if your situation changes, don't wait.
Every Family Is Different
The formula is the starting point, but the inputs are where cases are won or lost. How income is calculated, whether income should be attributed, how parenting time is counted, and which expenses get added all make a real difference in the final number.
If you have questions about child support, whether you're going through a divorce, establishing support for the first time, or thinking about a modification, I'm happy to sit down with you and walk through your situation one step at a time.
