How Is Child Support Calculated in Arizona?

Arizona employs the

Income Shares Model

to determine child support, which calculates the total support obligation based on both parents’ incomes and apportions it according to their respective shares. This approach ensures children receive support equivalent to what an intact family would provide, factoring in parenting time, health insurance, childcare, and other expenses.

Arizona Child Support Guidelines

The

Arizona Child Support Guidelines

, issued by the Arizona Supreme Court and updated periodically (most recently effective as of 2025), outline the standardized formula for calculations. These guidelines mandate courts to use specific worksheets and schedules, such as the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations, to compute payments. Key principles include prioritizing the child’s best interests and considering both parents’ financial abilities.

Guidelines cover:

• Definition of gross income, including wages, bonuses, self-employment earnings, and benefits.
• Adjustments for spousal maintenance, support for other children, and self-support reserves.
• Proportional sharing based on each parent’s income percentage.
• Additional costs like medical expenses and extraordinary child needs.

What Qualifies as Income?

**Gross income** forms the foundation of calculations and includes all sources before taxes or deductions. Courts broadly define it to prevent evasion:

• Wages, salaries, commissions, and bonuses.
• Self-employment income (net after business expenses).
• Rental properties, pensions, unemployment benefits, and investment income.
• Workers’ compensation, disability payments, and trust distributions.
• Imputed income for voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parents.

Non-taxable income may be adjusted, and courts exclude public assistance like TANF or SSI. Accurate income documentation via pay stubs, tax returns, or affidavits is essential.

Schedule of Basic Support Obligations

The

Schedule of Basic Support Obligations

provides a table linking combined adjusted gross income to monthly support amounts per child number. For example, at $7,500 combined monthly income for one child, the basic obligation is approximately $1,078.

This schedule accounts for children over age 12 with a 10% upward adjustment. Calculation steps include:

1. Determine combined adjusted income.
2. Select obligation from the schedule based on child count.
3. Add adjustments for older children: Divide basic amount by total children, multiply older children’s share by 1.10.

Parenting Time and Child Support

**Parenting time** significantly impacts payments, with Arizona using actual overnight days (over 100 miles apart includes travel costs). More time with a parent credits their support share, reducing payments to the other.

Formula credits daily per-parent time against total obligation. Example: Parent A (110 days) pays Parent B (255 days) after crediting time.

Health Insurance and Childcare Costs

Parents receive credits for:

• **Health insurance premiums** for the child(ren).
• **Work- or education-related childcare** costs.
• **Unreimbursed medical expenses** over $250/year, split proportionally.

These are apportioned by income share post-basic obligation.

Other Adjustments

Additional factors include:

• Court-ordered spousal maintenance (added/subtracted).
• Support for other children (deducted).
• **Self-Support Reserve Test**: Ensures low-income payers retain at least $939 monthly (2025 figure).
• Extraordinary expenses (e.g., private school, special needs).

How to Calculate Child Support in Arizona

Step-by-step process per guidelines:

1. Compute each parent’s adjusted gross income.
2. Combine incomes; apply schedule for basic obligation.
3. Add 10% for children 12+ if applicable.
4. Calculate each parent’s proportionate share (% of combined income).
5. Subtract credits (parenting time, insurance, childcare).
6. Apply self-support reserve if needed.

Courts finalize via worksheets like DRS-12.

Arizona Child Support Calculator

The official

Arizona Child Support Calculator

from the Judicial Branch is free and interactive, inputting incomes, children, parenting days, insurance ($150+), childcare ($400+), and more.[10] It outputs estimated payments under current guidelines, aiding negotiations or court prep.

Third-party tools mirror this but official is authoritative.

Child Support Calculation Example

Example (adapted from sources):

Factor	Parent A	Parent B
Gross Monthly Income	$4,500	$3,000
Combined Income	$7,500
Basic Obligation (1 child)	$1,078
Parenting Days	110	255
Health Insurance	$150	$0
Childcare	$0	$400

Parent A share: 60% ($4,500/$7,500). After credits/time, Parent A pays ~$360/month to Parent B.

Deviating from Guidelines

Courts presume guideline amounts correct but allow deviations for:

• Child’s extraordinary needs.
• Parental unemployment/underemployment without good cause.
• Significant income disparity or non-monetary contributions.

Deviations require written findings.

Child Support Modification

Modify for substantial, continuing change (e.g., 15%+ payment shift, income/job change, emancipation). File petition; use calculator for new estimates. Reviews every 3 years possible without change proof.

Enforcement of Child Support

Arizona’s Division of Child Support Services enforces via wage garnishment (up to 65%), liens, license suspension, passport denial, and jail.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the average child support payment in Arizona?

Varies by income/children; e.g., $500-$1,200/month for mid-income one child.

How far back can child support be requested?

Up to 3 years retroactively if established.

Does child support end at 18?

Generally at 18 or high school graduation (max 19); longer for disabled.

Can child support be tax-deductible?

No, since 2019 federal changes; not income to recipient.

What if a parent lives out-of-state?

Federal UIFSA coordinates; Arizona guidelines apply.