Navigating Child Support in Arizona
The Arizona Child Support Guidelines were modified effective January 1, 2022. The guidelines were modified to be more “user-friendly,” more descriptive, and to account for the cost of living adjustments subsequent to the last time the guidelines were modified.
Our Phoenix family law attorneys have a very detailed section regarding child support factors, how to calculate child support, how to modify child support, how to enforce child support, and various considerations. View the sidebars on our website for a more detailed explanation. The following is a brief summary of information that will provide you with an introduction to the more detailed information.
How Arizona Calculates Child Support
Arizona uses an Income Shares Model: the court estimates what both parents would have spent on the child if the family remained intact, then assigns each parent a proportionate share of that obligation. A number of factors shape the final number:
- Whether one parent has primary parenting time
- Each parent’s parenting time days throughout the year
- Each parent’s gross income
- Whether either parent pays or receives spousal maintenance
- Childcare and education costs
- Health and dental insurance costs
- The ages of the children (a 10% adjustment applies at age 12)
- Any special needs a child may have
The Basic Child Support Obligation is capped at a combined adjusted gross income of $20,000 per month.
How Much Will I Receive or Pay?
During your initial consultation, we can provide an estimate of what you’re likely entitled to receive or may be required to pay, based on your specific circumstances. Child support is governed by Arizona Statutes and the 2022 Arizona Child Support Guidelines. The Arizona Supreme Court also provides an online child support calculator that reflects the current guidelines and lets you run a preliminary estimate before you come in.
Is a Child Support Deviation Appropriate?
The court has discretion to deviate from the guidelines when applying them would produce an unjust or inappropriate result. Deviation requires a written ruling that states both the guideline amount and the deviated amount. Factors the court considers include the child’s standard of living in each household compared to a hypothetical intact household, special expenses, and each party’s financial resources. These deviations are described in further detail on our website.
Who Processes Child Support Payments?
Support payments are received, recorded, and processed by the Support Payment Clearinghouse:
Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE)
Support Payment Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 52107
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2107
(602) 878-3133
Disbursement Correspondence Unit
PO Box 40458
Phoenix, AZ 85067
Overnight Express payments can be sent to:
Arizona State Disbursement Unit
Attention: 1st Floor DCSS Receptionist
3443 North Central Avenue, #100
Phoenix, AZ 85012
For additional information, visit the Arizona Department of Economic Security website.
Child Support Calculation
- View/Complete Online
Equal Parenting Time & Child Support
In Arizona, equal parenting time does not automatically eliminate child support obligations. Parenting time is calculated based on the segments of time assigned to each parent, including days, evenings, overnights, and shared holidays. It matters in the formula, but it isn’t the only factor the court weighs.
Even when both parents share an equal schedule, the court still considers each parent’s income, health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and any special needs the child may have. If one parent earns significantly less, they may still receive support to help maintain a consistent quality of life for the child in both households.
Child Support When Parents Have Different Incomes
Arizona’s guidelines allocate child support expenses proportionally to each parent’s income. When one parent earns significantly more, they bear a larger share of the obligation. This is intended to reflect both parents’ financial circumstances regardless of the custody arrangement.
Gross income under the Arizona guidelines is defined broadly: wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment profits, investments, capital gains, veterans’ benefits, workers’ compensation, pensions, and annuities all count. When income fluctuates due to commissions, freelance work, or self-employment, courts may average several months of earnings to reach a stable figure. Each parent must also submit a complete and accurate financial affidavit. Misrepresentation can lead to unfavorable rulings or future modifications.
Childcare Costs & Day-to-Day Expenses
Work-related childcare costs, including daycare and after-school care, are included in the Arizona child support calculation. The parent paying for childcare typically receives credit for that cost within the overall obligation.
Day-to-day expenses like school supplies, clothing, extracurricular fees, and transportation frequently become conflict points. Courts prefer these be addressed in a parenting plan to reduce future disputes. Seasonal and recurring costs, such as back-to-school expenses or holiday travel, should also be addressed in the order. Extracurricular activities are generally left to parents to negotiate, though courts may include them if a child has an identified exceptional ability. Getting these details into the plan from the start can help reduce surprises later.
How Medical Expenses Factor Into Child Support
Healthcare costs, including insurance premiums and extraordinary out-of-pocket expenses, are allocated proportionally based on each parent’s income. If one parent carries the child on an employer or private plan, the premium cost is factored into the support calculation. Medical, dental, or psychological expenses not covered by insurance are split proportionally, and the court may issue a reimbursement order if one parent covers the full cost upfront.
A parent may also be required to carry insurance even if not currently enrolled. Failing to do so can result in additional legal consequences.
Effect of Parental Remarriage on Support Obligations
Remarriage doesn’t automatically change a child support obligation, but it can create financial ripple effects. Arizona courts don’t consider a new spouse’s income when calculating support. If a remarried parent has new dependents, they may request an adjustment to account for multiple child support responsibilities.
A receiving parent’s remarriage doesn’t reduce support on its own. Courts won’t lower payments simply because the receiving household has additional income. Any modification requires proof of a substantial and continuing change in circumstances.
Child Support in Cross-State Parenting Arrangements
Raising a child across state lines adds complexity to support orders, including interstate jurisdiction issues. The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) allows child support orders to be enforced across states. Arizona retains continuing exclusive jurisdiction over orders it has issued as long as one party still resides in the state, and Arizona’s Child Support Guidelines continue to govern the calculation unless both parents have moved out of state and request a transfer of jurisdiction.
This distinction matters because states differ in how they define income, qualifying childcare expenses, and extraordinary costs. Working with Arizona-based counsel can help support compliance with existing orders and help avoid conflicts between competing state laws.
Child Support & Job Loss
Job loss doesn’t suspend your child support obligation. The current order remains fully enforceable until a court modifies it. Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 23-789 (A.R.S. § 23-789), Arizona’s Division of Child Support Services may deduct up to 50% of a parent’s unemployment insurance benefits to satisfy a child support order. Once you file for unemployment, the state may begin withholding based on the applicable process.
Unpaid support accrues interest, and modifications relate back only to the date of filing, not an earlier date. Filing for modification as soon as a job is lost is important to limiting arrears exposure. Apply for unemployment benefits right away and consult a family law attorney about your modification options before the debt grows.
Enforcement Actions for Non-Payment
Failing to meet child support obligations in Arizona carries serious consequences. Enforcement tools available to Arizona DES include wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds and lottery winnings, liens on property, and suspension of driver’s or professional licenses. Courts may hold a non-paying parent in contempt. Civil contempt allows the parent to purge the finding by paying arrears, while criminal contempt results in a fixed jail sentence. In Maricopa County, the Accountability Court Program specifically addresses child support arrears and works toward long-term compliance.
Child support arrears judgments don’t expire in Arizona, and there is no statute of limitations on collecting them. Judges may be more likely to offer leniency to parents who are transparent about hardship and take proactive steps to address payment gaps. Avoiding the obligation entirely rarely works in a parent’s favor.
Modifying Child Support Over Time
Arizona law allows parents to request a modification when there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Courts generally require the change to affect the support amount by at least 15%. Common triggers include an income change, a custody change, new or eliminated childcare costs, a health insurance change, or a child aging out of the order.
Parents can’t unilaterally adjust payments, even with verbal agreement from both parties. A formal court petition is required, and modifications relate back only to the date of filing. Document changes thoroughly and act quickly to limit arrears exposure.
Child Support Modifications
The court may modify a child support order when a parent can show a material and continuing change of circumstances.
Modification triggers include parenting time changes, income changes for either parent, elimination of childcare expenses, health insurance changes, and children aging out of the order. Child support orders don’t change automatically. You must file a motion with the court, or a stipulation if both parties agree to the new amount.
Modifications can be made retroactive to the date of filing, so prompt action limits your exposure. We recommend reviewing any potential change with a child support modifications attorney in Phoenix before adjusting anything on your own. You can’t reduce your child support without a court order. Even if the other party agrees to a reduction, that agreement must be formalized in a court order to be enforceable. Without it, you risk a later demand for substantial back support you believed you didn’t owe.
BDB Law attorneys serve Phoenix and Tempe child support clients.
Child Support Termination
If your youngest child covered by the order turns 18 and graduates from high school, your ongoing child support obligation terminates at that time. If the child is still enrolled in high school at 18, support continues until the child’s 19th birthday or graduation, whichever comes first.
Termination isn’t automatic. Confirm with your employer that any income withholding order has been stopped. If your child support order or Order of Assignment doesn’t make the termination clear, file a motion with the court to terminate the Order of Assignment.
Establishing Child Support for the First Time
Child support can be initiated outside of a divorce proceeding. Unmarried parents, separated co-parents, and caretakers may all petition for an initial order. To establish support, the child must be under 18, paternity must be legally established where applicable, and both parents must receive proper legal notice of the proceeding.
Paternity can be established voluntarily through an Acknowledgment of Paternity. If either party is uncooperative, the matter may be referred for a court hearing. Genetic testing costs are initially covered by the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) and may later be charged to the confirmed father. If the responding party fails to respond within 20 days (or 30 days for non-Arizona residents), a judge may enter a default judgment in favor of the petitioner’s request.
Child support applies to both natural and legally adopted children. Step-child support is voluntary. A child support lawyer can walk you through which process applies to your situation and help you avoid procedural delays that may push back the effective start date of the order.
Child Support for Adult Children with Disabilities
In most cases, child support ends when a child turns 18 and graduates from high school. Under A.R.S. § 25-320(E), however, the court may order support to continue past the age of majority when an adult child has severe mental or physical disabilities that prevent independent living, provided the disability began before the child turned 18. The court may direct extended support payments to the adult child directly or to the parent providing care.
Parents who anticipate this situation should address it explicitly in the original support order. Relying on a later modification requires demonstrating a substantial and continuing change in circumstances at that time, which can be a higher bar than building the provision in from the start.
Additional Child Support Information
2022 Child Support Guidelines
Additional Information & Resources
The Arizona Supreme Court website is a valuable resource where, in addition to the child support calculator above, you can find the following:
- Forms & Pamphlets
- Employer Resources
- Payment Information
- Modification of Support
Why Clients Choose BDB Law
At BDB Law, we handle child support matters arising from divorce, post-divorce situations, and cases involving children born outside of marriage, serving clients from our Phoenix and Tempe offices. Our lead attorney, William D. Bishop, is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist, a designation held by approximately 65 attorneys statewide, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, one of roughly 30 to 35 such Fellows in Arizona. The firm holds the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, achieved by fewer than 5% of law firms based on peer and judicial review, and our attorneys are recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. With over 80 years of combined family law experience, we bring substantial experience to every child support matter.
Whether you need a child support lawyer for an initial order, a modification, or an enforcement matter, contact our Phoenix and Tempe offices to get started.
Talk to a Family Law Firm That Knows Arizona Child Support
Every child support situation is different, and the consequences of getting it wrong reach your finances and your child’s future. Whether you need help establishing an initial order, defending against an unfair demand, or modifying an existing agreement, we provide skilled guidance at every stage. We can help you understand your options, assert your rights, and work toward a resolution that protects your child’s best interests.
(602) 878-3133 - schedule a consultation with a family law attorney who knows Arizona’s courts, statutes, and procedures.
