Under Washington law, courts rely on statutory guidelines to establish a basic child support obligation. These guidelines ensure consistency and fairness by using a formula that considers:

• Gross Monthly Incomes of both parents
  
• Number of Children
  
• Age of the Children
  
• Residential Time each parent has with the child
  

Although there is a standard calculation, courts may deviate from the guideline amount if they find compelling reasons that serve the child’s best interests.

Length of Payment

In Washington, child support generally continues until the child turns 18 years old or completes high school—whichever occurs later. In some cases (e.g., if a child has special needs or if the child pursues postsecondary education), support may extend beyond age 18, but this requires a separate court order or agreement.

Determining Income for Calculating Support

When calculating child support, courts look at each parent’s gross monthly income (pre-tax earnings). If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income, using at least minimum wage or a reasonable earning capacity based on work history and education level. This approach ensures that parents do not reduce their income artificially to lower their child support obligations.

Health Insurance

Beyond the monthly child support amount, health insurance coverage for the child typically must be addressed in the Parenting Plan or Child Support Order. The court can order one or both parents to:

• Provide health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan or private policy
• Share out-of-pocket medical costs on a proportional basis (often matching each parent’s share of income)

Income Withholding

Washington law commonly requires an Income Withholding Order (IWO). This legal order directs the paying parent’s employer to withhold child support from wages and send it directly to the Washington State Support Registry, which then forwards the payment to the receiving parent. This system helps ensure timely, consistent support payments.