Determining Child Support in Arizona

Arizona law provides guidelines for establishing child support in cases where the biological parents are not sharing a household or incomes. Children must be provided for by both parents in most cases.

Establishing Child Support in Arizona

Arizona child support guidelines apply to all children, including those who have been adopted or born outside of the marital institution. Under Arizona law, the child support obligation takes priority over all other financial obligations. Having other support obligations is generally not a reason for which the court will deviate from the guidelines established by the Arizona Supreme Court.

The first thing the court will look to is the income of the parents from all sources. Other things that will be taken in to consideration in determining support orders are age of the children; number of children; other obligations; spousal support obligations; and child care and medical expenses. Children with special needs may receive higher support payments to facilitate their proper care.

If child support is not paid regularly and timely and it is in violation of a court order, the parent to whom support is ordered can seek to garnish the other parents wages to get payments in many cases. The court must order the wage garnishment. This allows the employer of a non-paying parent to know of delinquency. Having your employer know about child support delinquency can be embarrassing. If you wish to keep your child custody and support arrangements private, it is best to comply with court orders.

If the financial situation of either party to a child support agreement change, a modification of the original order can be sought. The court will again look to the surrounding circumstances and incomes of both parents and need of the child or children to come to a child support determination. Child support orders can be modified more than once since income is not always permanent or predictable.

Getting Legal Advice

An Arizona family law attorney can help you figure out how much child support is likely to be granted in your custody case. Your attorney will help you look at the facts that the court will use to determine support arrangements. This will give you a chance to figure out what your needs are and what you may be able to do to help your case. Arizona has established lower and higher income thresholds for child support allowances.

Thinking About Divorce?