Child Support

Washington State uses a child support formula to determine the base monthly child support amount. The factors include the number of children, their ages, and the incomes of the parents. Specifically, Washington State calculates child support using an “Income Shares Model” that factors in both parents’ combined net incomes under RCW 26.19. Depending on the variables plugged into the formula, the base child support payment will be anywhere from $200 up to $3,500 per month. When the Washington legislature put this formula together, the idea was that it would cover the basic, recurring expenses associated with raising children; primarily food, clothing, and housing. The formula is statewide, meaning that there is no adjustment made depending on where the children live.

Child Support & High Income Households

In addition, the base support formula maxes out for high-income households. Generally speaking, if you make more money, then you can expect to pay more child support. Effective January 1, 2026, Washington’s statutory child support economic table covers combined net monthly incomes up to $50,000. Previously, once the parents’ combined net income hit $12,000 a month, the child support formula stopped taking into account any increase in income when determining child support.

In other words, all else being equal, under older formulas, the parent making $150,000 and the parent making $1,500,000 in net salary would have had the same basic child support amount. Under the updated schedule, higher income tiers require proportional baseline adjustments, and orders are routinely filed through the King County Superior Court (Seattle & Kent) or administered via the WA DSHS Division of Child Support (DCS).

For the most part, there are few material issues that arise in using the child support formula, particularly where both parents are standard, W-2 employees. However, where either parent has income from a business, irregular income, or substantial wealth, determining income can be more difficult. For these individuals, tax returns (typically an authoritative source for determining income) can be either misleading or unhelpful. In these instances, having an experienced divorce attorney who can readily identify income sources and calculate an individual’s true income is highly valuable.

Expenses Not Included in Washington State’s Base Child Support Amount

The base child support formula amount is meant to cover housing, food, and clothing (and other de minimis expenses). However, there are three broad categories that are not covered by the base formula amount: health care costs, daycare costs, and extra-curricular activities. When crafting the base support formula, the legislature determined that these three categories varied far too widely from household to household and so could not be reduced to a straightforward, formulaic determination.

Instead, courts allocate these costs pro rata, based on each parent’s income. Where parents each make the same amount of money, they will split these out of pocket costs 50/50. Where the father makes twice as much as the mother, he will pay 2/3 of these out of pocket costs.

This is often a source of conflict as one parent will incur a cost that the other deems unreasonable, whether it be an out of network health care provider or an extra-curricular activity to which the other parent does not agree. When these child support disputes go to family court, judicial officers are generally guided by their sense of what is reasonable. If a child has an established and beneficial relationship with a therapist that is suddenly no longer in-network due to insurance changes, and if the parents both make good money, then the court will probably order both parents to pay the increased cost of therapy. However, where one parent, over the objection of the other parent, signs up a child for a ten-day NASA Summer Space Camp at Yale University (with a field trip to the UN thrown in for good measure) for $15,000, then the court will likely not require the other parent to contribute to the cost.

People who look at the above examples and recognize the likely court outcomes as reasonable will almost never need a family law attorney to go to court to argue about child support issues. People who look at the above examples and do not recognize the likely court outcomes as reasonable will almost always need an attorney to argue about these issues. You know who you are.

Courts Can Deviate from Standard Child Support Amounts

The formula and cost allocations described above can be altered if either parent has a good reason for doing so. Typically, most deviations take the form of increases and are for covering specific costs associated with children. Deviations are somewhat rare and include things like the special needs of disabled children (including medical, educational, and psychological costs). It is also possible to reduce the standard child support amount if the children spend equal time with both parents (though courts will usually only do this where the parties have similar incomes).

The key to obtaining a deviation is identifying with specificity the cost associated with the deviation. Simply stating that there are special costs, without showing what those costs are, will not be sufficient to obtain a deviation from the standard formula amount.

College Costs Can Be Included in Washington State Child Support

Washington State allows for college expenses to be included in a child support order. Post-secondary (college) support is not automatic in Washington; it must be specifically ordered by the court or included in a parenting/support agreement prior to the termination of basic child support. Where children are young, courts generally reserve the issue until the children are teenagers, at which point it is easier to determine both whether the children will likely go to college and what resources their parents have for paying the cost. In this instance, however, it is imperative to return to family court before the child turns 18 or graduates from High School; failure to do so will result in the court losing jurisdiction to award college support.

In determining whether to make an award of college support, courts look primarily at the aptitude of the child and the income of the parents. In essence, the court tries to determine whether the parents would have financially supported the child in college had they stayed married. If the court decides the answer is yes, then the court will order the parents to financially support the child in college. Somewhat curiously, this has the unintended effect of reducing social mobility and reinforcing class hierarchies – children from families that are not deemed “college material” (i.e. from blue-collar families) are not, under current law, entitled to court-ordered financial support to attend college.

Contact our Knowledgeable Washington, Seattle Child Support Attorneys Today

Child support in Washington State can be complicated, but the family law attorneys at S.L. Pitts have the experience and knowledge to help you understand what goes into the calculations. Whether you need assistance filing a motion in King County Superior Court (Seattle & Kent) or navigating administrative proceedings through the WA DSHS Division of Child Support (DCS), our attorneys provide comprehensive advocacy. Whether you are seeking to establish child support, enforce an order, or modify an order, our divorce attorneys are here to help. We can help navigate you through this sensitive matter and reach a fair outcome for both you and your children. Contact us today to book an appointment with one of our skilled Seattle, Washington child support attorneys today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated under Washington state statutory guidelines?

Washington child support is calculated using the statutory Washington State Child Support Schedule (RCW 26.19), based on combined net monthly income and child ages. Washington operates under an “Income Shares Model,” where the baseline monthly cost of raising a child is determined from state economic tables and divided between both parents proportionally based on their respective net monthly incomes.

How does the court determine net monthly income when calculating basic child support obligations?

Net monthly income is determined by taking total gross income from all reliable financial sources, including base wages, salaries, commissions, self-employment earnings, investment income, and bonuses, and subtracting legally allowable statutory deductions under RCW 26.19.071.

What deductions are legally permitted from gross income under Washington law?

Allowable deductions under RCW 26.19.071 include federal income tax, FICA/Medicare taxes, mandatory union dues, mandatory pension contributions, statutory state insurance programs (such as PFML and WA Cares), pre-existing court-ordered child support, and court-ordered spousal maintenance paid.

How are mandatory taxes, union dues, and retirement contributions factored into net income?

Mandatory taxes, mandatory union dues, and state-required payroll withholdings are deducted directly dollar-for-dollar from gross income. Voluntary retirement contributions are subject to statutory limits and caps under state guidelines to ensure net income figures reflect true available financial resources.

What financial records are required to document gross vs. net earnings accurately?

Parties must provide six months of consecutive, full paystubs, the two most recent federal income tax returns complete with all W-2s, 1099s, and schedules, as well as a fully completed and signed court Financial Declaration form accompanied by proof of recurring expenses.

How is child support calculated for high-earning parents and tech executives whose income exceeds state statutory caps?

Effective January 1, 2026, Washington’s statutory economic table extends to combined net monthly incomes of $50,000. When combined parental net income exceeds the $50,000 statutory cap (or $12,000 for older orders), courts exercise discretion under RCW 26.19.020 to award additional support based on the child’s specific needs and the family’s historical standard of living.

How are unvested stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance bonuses incorporated into child support calculations?

RSUs and performance bonuses are classified as gross income under RCW 26.19.071 upon vesting or payout. In high-tech divorces, courts frequently establish a standard base monthly child support order tied to base salary, combined with a supplemental percentage-based order applied directly to equity vesting schedules and cash bonuses.

Are fluctuating quarterly bonuses included as standard net income or treated through a percentage order?

Fluctuating bonuses are typically addressed through a two-tiered child support order establishing a baseline monthly transfer payment plus a defined percentage of net cash bonus distributions, preventing the need for frequent court modifications due to variable payout amounts.

How do courts calculate support when combined parental income exceeds the maximum limit on the WA Support Schedule?

Under RCW 26.19.020, judges establish the presumptive basic support obligation at the maximum level of the support schedule and then evaluate the child’s extracurricular, educational, and medical needs alongside the family’s overall lifestyle to determine any additional discretionary support obligation.

Can one spouse request a downward or upward deviation based on non-taxable corporate benefits?

Yes, a party can request a statutory deviation under RCW 26.19.075 based on significant employer-paid housing, company vehicle perks, non-taxable executive fringe benefits, or substantial corporate expense write-offs that reduce a parent’s personal cost of living.