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CHILD SUPPORT IN
WASHINGTON
The Child Support
Schedule was established by the State legislature in 1988 to comply
with federal law requiring each state to have a standardized statewide
child support schedule. The legislative intent is to ensure that
child support orders meet a child's basic needs and provide support
commensurate with the parents income, resources, and standard of
living. The legislature also intended that child support obligations be
equitably apportioned between parents. The schedule uses income and
assets information from both parents to determine the child support amount.
State law requires that all income and resources from each parent's
household be disclosed, but only the income of the parents whose child
support is at issue can be considered when calculating the basic
child support
obligation. In the absence of current income information, child support
can be imputed, based on parents' past earnings or on statistical median
net income. The court can also impute income to a party who is
voluntarily unemployed or under-employed. If there is a valid
statutory basis, the court can deviate the
amount of child support either upward or downward.
The court can also
order a parent to contribute to the
post-secondary (college)
education expense of their children.
After the
net
income for both parents is calculated, it is added together to determine
how much total support is required for the children. Once a combined
support figure is calculated, a proportionate share of the support is
awarded to each parent based on the percentage their net income
represents of the combined total. The nonresidential parent meets their
obligation by paying child support.
The amount a
nonresidential parent pays for current child support is limited by law.
The nonresidential parent's monthly child support payment should not
exceed 45 percent of his or her net income. This law does not limit the
amount of a judgment that can be established for delinquent child
support. It also may not include additional child related
expenses
such as daycare and medical insurance. State law also specifies
that a support obligation should not reduce the paying parent's net
income below the need standard (currently $944 per month).
Governor Gregoire just signed a new law changing how we
calculate Child Support in the State of Washington. This is the
first update to the Child Support Schedules in years. The new
changes will go into effect October 1, 2009.
Some of the changes to the child support calculations are as
follows:
- The Child Support Schedules start at
combined net income of $1,000 instead of $600.
- The Child Support Schedules continue to a
combined net income of $12,000, instead of stopping at $5,000
(presumptive) and $7,000 (advisory).
- Some overtime and 2nd job income can be excluded
from income.
- The deduction for retirement contributions from
gross income is increased from $2,000 to $5,000 per year.
- The method of determining income to be imputed to
a parent when records are lacking has been expanded in a hierarchy.
- Health care costs (to be shared) have been
defined.
- The minimum child support payment has been
increased from $25 per child per month to $50 per child per month.
This could have a significant effect on many Child
Support Orders, increasing the amounts that will be due in the State
of Washington. Child support can be
modified if there is a
substantial change in circumstances. If you would like to have your child support order
reviewed to determine the amount of child support under the new
laws, please call our office.
The free
information contained in these pages is not intended
to be legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You
should always consult with an
experienced family law attorney before taking any action. Feel free
to contact an attorney at MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. at 425-255-4542 to
schedule an appointment and discuss these issues with you.
Site Map
MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, Renton, Washington, 98057
Phone: (425) 255-4542
Our law firm is conveniently located in Renton, King County, WA, just off the freeway at the intersection of I-405 and I-167, easily accessible from Seattle and Bellevue Washington. Our
three family law and divorce attorneys represent clients in the greater Seattle area and throughout the State of Washington, including the communities of Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Fairwood,
Cascade, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Auburn, Maple Valley, Skyway, Federal Way, Des Moines,
Kent Meridian, Lake Youngs, m, SeaTac, Factoria, Covington, Medina, Fox
Island, Gig Harbor, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Seahurst, Redondo, Enumclaw and most of south King County. Call 425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with an
experienced family law and divorce attorney / lawyer. Our attorneys represent both men and women in divorce
and the drafting of simple wills,
and are members of the Christian Legal Society. Our lawyers offer affordable rates
(reasonably priced) for uncontested divorce.
The free information
and help contained in these pages is not intended to be legal advice, and
does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult
with a lawyer before taking any legal action. Feel free to call us at
425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with a family law lawyer for
help regarding your marriage, divorce (contested or uncontested), custody,
complex property division, child support and maintenance, adoption, will,
estate plan or probate. We offer inexpensive discount package deals and for our wills,
simple will and estate
planning documents. We offer a Christian perspective in our practice, yet
are aggressive in protecting your rights. Our attorneys are licensed to practice only in the State of Washington,
and are easily accessible to the greater Seattle area.
Serving both male and female clients in the Seattle, King County, WA area, including the communities of Kent, Renton, Tukwila, Southcenter, Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Maple Valley, Des Moines, Burien, Fairwood,
Cascade, Covington, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Issaquah, Factoria, Black Diamond, Algona, Covington, Fall City, Hobart, Medina, North Bend, Pacific,
Buckley, Highline, Newport Hills, Coal Creek, Fox
Island, Gig Harbor, White Center,
Boulevard Park, Rainier Beach, Rainier Valley, Bryn Mawr, Redondo, Covington, Kent Kangley,
Cougar Mountain, Preston, Ravensdale, Kanaskat, Palmer, Cumberland, Redondo,
Midway, Georgetown, McMicken Heights, Eastgate, Kennydale, Medina,
Overlake, Boeing, Microsoft, Paccar, East Renton Highlands, Preston, Kent East Hill, Lake Meridian,
Green River, Star Lake, Lake Sawyer, Duwamish, Seward Park, Columbia City, Georgetown, Holly Park, Sammamish, Seahurst, Snoqualmie,
Soos Creek, Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot, Twin Lakes, Skyway,
Bellevue, Enumclaw and most of south King County, WA. This includes zip
codes of 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98030, 98031, 98032 98042,
98038, 98040, 98045, 98168, and 98188, and area codes of 206, 253, and 425,
. We represent clients
from Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Weyerhaeuser, Valley Medical
Center, various hospitals and insurance companies, T-Mobile, and many other employers. We serve clients of all
nationalities and ethnicities, including African American, Native American,
Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Caucasian, black, Indian, Korean, Japanese,
Russian, Ethiopian, Italian, Vietnamese, Pacific Islander, Philippine, Irish, English, French, German, and Chinese.
We receive clients of all faiths and religions, including Christian, Islam,
Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Judaism, Baha'i, New Age, Scientology, Mormon, LDS Catholic, Protestant,
Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Foursquare,
Evangelical, Assembly of God, Jehovah Witness, Episcopal, Foursquare,
Lutheran, Bible, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Unitarian, atheist, secularist, and agnostic. We also represent clients who are
members of labor unions (Teamsters, AFL-CIO, Teachers Union, NEA), unemployed or stay-at-home parents,
members of service organizations (Kiwanis, Lions, Masons, Rotary, Shriners,
AARP, etc), Democrat and Republican, veterans and military personnel. Please call to talk to an affordable
(inexpensive) Washington state family law attorney / lawyer for help about your divorce (contested or uncontested),
complex property division, simple wills, probate or other legal issue.
Site Map
MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, Renton, Washington, 98057
Phone: (425) 255-4542
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