The state of Washington uses specific guidelines to determine child support. Parents who want to estimate either how much child support they owe, or how much child support they will receive, should use Washington’s interactive child support calculator, which is provided by the state.
Tips for Using the Washington Child Support Calculator
- Only use the Washington child support calculator provided on the state’s Department of Child Support services web site.
- Third-party child support calculators may not provide users with a reliable, accurate child support estimate.
- Be aware that the Washington child support calculator is designed to provide an estimate only.
- In order to use the calculator, you will need to know the total income of both parents, including wages, salaries, business income, maintenance, imputed income, and all other sources of income.
- You will also need to know about certain expenses for each parent, including federal and state taxes and mandatory union dues.
- Calculations determined with the Washington child support calculator are not saved. In order to keep a record of the data, use the "print" command on your computer to create a PDF of the completed worksheet.
Tips for Parents Requesting Child Support in Washington
- Become familiar with Washington’s child support guidelines.
- File for child support at your local Child Support Agency.
- You can print an application for child support services right from Washington's Division of Child Support Services web site.
- When filing for child support, provide a much detailed, accurate information as you can.
Tips for Parents Who Owe Child Support in Washington
- You can make child support payments online through Washington's Child Support Internet Payment Service.
- Be aware that the state of Washington charges interest on unpaid child support.
- If you have difficulty paying child support, consider requesting a child support modification.
