Washington Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator

Washington calculates child support using the Income Shares Model under RCW 26.19, combining both parents' net monthly incomes and referencing the Economic Table to set the basic obligation. Support typically ends when a child turns 18 or finishes high school. Use the Washington child support calculator below to estimate a guideline amount, or open the full Washington child support calculator for a detailed breakdown.

How to Apply for Child Support in Washington

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) administers child support services through its Division of Child Support (DCS). The DCS provides services including paternity establishment, support order creation, order review and modification, and payment collection.

To apply for child support services in Washington:

• Create a DSHS account online to request an application
• Download the Application for Support Enforcement Services (Form 18-078)
• Mail completed applications to: Division of Child Support Central Services, P.O. Box 11520, Tacoma, WA 98411

The DCS responds to applications within 7 to 10 business days. You can locate child support offices near you here. Customer service is available at 1-800-457-6202.

The DCS does not provide legal representation to parents. If you need an attorney, consult with a Washington family law practitioner for guidance.

How Is Paternity Established in Washington?

Washington child support laws under RCW 26.26A provide multiple ways to establish paternity:

• Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage: Both parents sign the acknowledgment form at the hospital, or file it afterward with the state registrar of vital statistics, the office within the Washington State Department of Health that maintains birth records.
• Court Order: Either parent may petition the superior court to order genetic testing.
• Administrative Establishment: Parents may petition the DCS for administrative paternity establishment.
• Marital Presumption: An individual married to, or in a state registered domestic partnership with, the person who gave birth is presumed to be a parent of a child born during the marriage or partnership, or born not later than 300 days after it ends by death, dissolution, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation.

Under RCW 26.26A.115(1)(b), a person may also be presumed a parent without genetic proof, but the test has two parts and both must be met: the individual resided in the same household with the child for the first four years of the child's life, including any period of temporary absence, and openly held the child out as the individual's child. Holding the child out on its own does not create the presumption.

Establishing paternity grants the child inheritance rights, potential veteran's benefits, and health insurance eligibility. It also creates custody and visitation rights for the father. A Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage is only valid if both parents sign it.

How Is Child Support Determined in Washington?

Washington uses the Income Shares Model to calculate child support. Under RCW Chapter 26.19, both the courts and DSHS have authority to issue child support orders based on a standardized formula that considers:

• The gross monthly income of both parents
• The number of children in each household
• Health insurance costs for the children
• Work-related daycare expenses
• Any special needs of the child or parent
• The parenting time arrangement

How the Calculation Works

The court follows these steps to determine child support:

1. Calculate gross monthly income for each parent from all sources, including wages, salaries, bonuses, self-employment income, and investments.
2. Subtract allowable deductions including federal and state taxes, Social Security, mandatory union dues, and other required deductions to arrive at net income.
3. Combine both parents' net incomes into a single figure.
4. Reference the Economic Table in RCW 26.19.020 to find the basic support obligation based on combined income and number of children.
5. Allocate the obligation proportionally based on each parent's share of combined income.

Health care costs are not included in the Economic Table. Monthly health care costs are shared by the parents in the same proportion as the basic support obligation, including medical, dental, orthodontia, vision, chiropractic, mental health treatment, and prescription medications. Day care and special child-rearing expenses, such as tuition and long-distance transportation for visitation, are also shared proportionally under RCW 26.19.080.

2026 Changes Under Engrossed House Bill 1014

Effective January 1, 2026, Washington enacted significant changes to the child support schedule through Engrossed House Bill 1014. Key updates include:

• Expanded Economic Table: The table now covers combined monthly net incomes from $2,200 up to $50,000. The previous table capped at $12,000, which forced courts to extrapolate for higher-income families.
• Updated Low-Income Floor: The previous minimum income level of $1,000 per month was raised to $2,200. For incomes below $2,200, the court conducts a case-specific review.
• Higher Self-Support Reserve: The self-support reserve increased from 125% to 180% of the federal poverty guideline for a one-person household. If the paying parent's remaining income after support would fall below this threshold, the support amount is reduced.
• New Payroll Deductions: Parents may now deduct Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) premiums and WA Cares long-term care trust contributions from gross income.
• Educational Expenses Removed: Educational expenses are no longer included in the basic support obligation under the Economic Table.

Support obligations for incomes between $2,200 and $12,000 remain unchanged from the previous schedule. For combined incomes above $50,000, courts may exceed the table's presumptive amount upon written findings of fact.

Grounds for Deviation

Under RCW 26.19.075, judges may deviate from the standard calculation when the amount would be unjust or inappropriate. Reasons for deviation include:

• Income of other adults in the household
• Involuntarily incurred extraordinary debt
• Significant disparity in living costs due to uncontrollable factors
• Special educational, psychological, or medical needs of the children
• Extraordinary income of the child
• Tax advantages available to either parent

The court must enter written findings explaining why the deviation is in the best interest of the child.

How to Calculate Child Support in Washington

Washington provides two official tools to estimate child support:

• Quick Child Support Estimator for a basic estimate
• Automated Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheet Calculator for detailed calculations

You can also download the official Washington State Child Support Schedule (January 2026) for reference. For a quick estimate, open the Washington child support calculator on this site.

Calculator estimates may differ from what a court ultimately orders. The court commissioner, administrative judge, or superior court judge has final authority over the support amount.

The court may impute income for a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. This means the court assigns an earning capacity based on the parent's work history, education, and local job market conditions. The minimum child support amount in Washington is $50 per child per month under RCW 26.19.065.

How to Modify Child Support in Washington

Either parent may petition for a child support order review when circumstances change. A support order modification may result in an increase, decrease, or the obligation may remain the same.

Common grounds for modification include:

• Substantial change in financial circumstances such as job loss, income change, or disability
• The order is at least 24 months old and a party's income has changed, or the economic table or standards in chapter 26.19 RCW have changed (no substantial-change showing required, RCW 26.09.170(9)(a))
• The order is at least one year old and, without a change, it would cause severe economic hardship, or the child is still enrolled in high school and support needs to continue (RCW 26.09.170(8))
• Change in parenting time arrangement
• Change in daycare or medical costs
• Birth of another child

Which statute applies depends on the type of order. For a court order, RCW 26.09.170(9)(a) lets either party file for an adjustment 24 months after the order was entered or last adjusted, based on changes in a party's income or changes in the economic table or standards in chapter 26.19 RCW, with no substantial-change showing. For a DCS administrative order, the parallel provision is RCW 74.20A.059(6), which allows an income-based adjustment once every 24 months.

RCW 26.09.170(10) is sometimes described as a 15 percent modification rule, but it is a department-initiated route rather than a threshold a parent may file on. It allows the Division of Child Support to bring a modification action where the order differs by at least 15 percent from the standard calculation: on that difference alone in public assistance cases, and in nonassistance cases only where the case also meets the department's review criteria and a party or another jurisdiction has requested a review.

Under WAC 388-14A-3901, DCS must conduct an administrative review when 35 months have passed since the order was entered, last modified, or last reviewed, particularly in cases involving public assistance. A parent may also request an administrative review at any time through the DCS.

To request modification:

• For administrative orders served by DCS: Complete Form 9-280B Petition for Modification
• For court orders: Complete Form 9-471 Child Support Order Review Request
• Download modification forms here

If you are unsure about your order type, call 1-800-442-5437 for assistance.

With the January 2026 changes under EHB 1014, parents currently paying support under older orders may find that recalculation produces a different amount. A change to the chapter 26.19 RCW schedule is itself a recognized basis for adjustment without proving changed circumstances: 24 months after entry or last adjustment for a court order under RCW 26.09.170(9)(a), and after only 12 months for a DCS administrative order under RCW 74.20A.059(7)(a). If your order was entered before the January 2026 changes, ask a Washington family lawyer in a free case evaluation whether a recalculation would change your amount and when you can file (attorney advertising).

What Happens If You Do Not Pay Child Support in Washington?

Washington child support laws authorize the DCS or courts to use various enforcement tools under RCW Chapter 26.18 and RCW Chapter 74.20A when parents fail to pay:

• Income Withholding: Automatic wage garnishment through the employer under RCW 26.23.060
• Liens: Liens may be placed on vehicles, real estate, and other property
• License Suspension: Driver's licenses, professional licenses, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, and business licenses may be suspended or revoked
• Bank Account Seizure: Funds may be collected directly from bank accounts and other financial accounts
• Credit Bureau Reporting: Delinquent support may be reported to credit bureaus
• Passport Denial: Passports may be denied or revoked for arrears exceeding $2,500
• Tax Refund Interception: State and federal tax refunds may be intercepted
• Private Collection: Cases may be referred to private collection agencies

The DCS may take collection actions even if the noncustodial parent is not behind in payments, as a proactive measure to ensure consistent payment.

Contempt of Court

Under RCW 26.18.050, a custodial parent may file a contempt action when the paying parent refuses to comply with a court order. Contempt may result in fines, makeup payments, or jail time. You can download contempt of court application forms here.

Criminal Non-Support

Missing payments on a support order is not itself a state crime in Washington. Nonpayment of an order is handled through contempt and the administrative enforcement tools above. The state offense is narrower: under RCW 26.20.035, a person who is able to provide support, or able to earn the means to provide it, and who willfully omits to provide necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical attendance to a dependent child, or to a spouse or domestic partner, commits family nonsupport, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in county jail and a fine up to $5,000. In severe cases, the DCS may refer cases to a U.S. Attorney for federal criminal non-support prosecution.

How Long Do You Have to Pay Child Support in Washington?

Child support in Washington typically ends when the child:

• Turns 18 years old
• Completes high school (support may be extended beyond age 18 if the child is still enrolled in high school, per RCW 26.09.170)
• Becomes emancipated
• Gets married
• Joins the United States military

Your support order should specify the termination date. There is no automatic termination at age 19 under Washington law. Instead, the end date depends on the specific circumstances outlined in the order.

Support for Adult Dependent Children

Support may continue indefinitely if the child has a severe mental or physical disability that prevents self-support. Washington courts may order continued support for an adult dependent child based on the child's needs and the parents' financial resources.

Postsecondary Educational Support

Washington courts may order parents to contribute to a child's postsecondary education under RCW 26.19.090. This type of support is separate from standard child support and is advisory rather than mandatory.

The court considers factors such as the child's academic aptitude, the parents' resources, and the family's expectations when the parents were together. Postsecondary educational support may not extend beyond the child's 23rd birthday except in cases involving mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.

The child must be enrolled in an accredited academic or vocational school, maintain good academic standing, and share academic records with both parents.

Early Termination Through Emancipation

At age 16, a minor in Washington may petition the juvenile court for emancipation. The minor must demonstrate the ability to manage their own financial and personal affairs. Consult with a family court attorney if you believe emancipation applies to your situation.

More Washington Laws

• Washington Alimony Laws
• Washington Child Custody Laws
• Washington Divorce Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum child support payment in Washington?

The minimum child support amount in Washington is $50 per child per month. Under RCW 26.19.065(2)(a), a paying parent's net income falling below 180 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a one-person family is precisely what triggers that $50-per-child minimum. The self-support reserve does not push support below it either: RCW 26.19.065(2)(b) applies the reserve except for the presumptive minimum payment of $50 per child per month. The only route below $50 is for the obligor parent to establish that entering that amount would be unjust in the particular case.

What changed about Washington child support in 2026?

Engrossed House Bill 1014 took effect on January 1, 2026. The law expanded the Economic Table to cover combined monthly net incomes up to $50,000 (previously $12,000), raised the self-support reserve from 125% to 180% of the federal poverty guideline, allowed deductions for PFML and WA Cares premiums, and removed educational expenses from the basic support obligation.

How long does it take to get a child support order in Washington?

The DCS typically responds to applications within 7 to 10 business days. The entire process to establish an order can take several weeks to a few months depending on case complexity, whether paternity must be established, and whether the other parent cooperates.

Can Washington courts order support for college expenses?

Yes. Under RCW 26.19.090, courts may order parents to contribute to postsecondary educational expenses. This is a separate, advisory determination. The child must be enrolled in an accredited school, maintain good academic standing, and share records with both parents. This support cannot extend past the child's 23rd birthday except in cases involving disability.

What happens if I lose my job and cannot pay child support?

You should immediately petition the court or DCS for a modification. Continue making whatever payments you can. Do not simply stop paying, as arrears will accumulate and enforcement actions may begin. A substantial change in financial circumstances qualifies as grounds for modification. For a court order, RCW 26.09.170(9)(a) also lets either party seek an adjustment based on income changes alone 24 months after the order was entered or last adjusted, without proving a substantial change in circumstances. RCW 74.20A.059(6) is the parallel provision for a DCS administrative order.