In Arizona, the amount of child support you will pay or receive is based on several factors provided by the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. This blog will take a look at the factors used when determining the amount of child support.

The state of Arizona provides a child support calculator that can be used to help determine the amount you will pay or receive. That calculator can be found here: Child Support Calculator.

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‍Factor #1

Monthly Gross Income

The starting point for determining child support is to look at both parents’ monthly gross income. Monthly gross income includes salaried pay, hourly pay, commissions and bonuses, other forms of recurring income or benefits, disability income and, self-employment income.

Factor #2

Court Ordered Spousal Maintenance

After the monthly gross income of both parents has been determined, that amount will be adjusted for any court-ordered spousal maintenance payments made or received.

Factor #3

Support of Children From Other Relationships

If a parent has children from other relationships, either biological or adopted, their monthly gross income will be adjusted to account for their support of those children.

Factor #4

Medical or Dental Insurance Payments

The parent providing medical or dental insurance for the child will receive an adjustment for the monthly cost of those payments.

Factor #5

Monthly Child Care Costs

Each parent will receive an adjustment for the monthly amount towards child care costs.

Factor #6

Extra Education Expenses

If the parents of the child have agreed to or been ordered by the court to pay for private or special schooling, that amount will be adjusted for in the calculation so long as it is reasonable and necessary.

Factor #7

Extraordinary (gifted or special needs) Child Expenses

Expenses incurred by either parent related to a child with special needs or that is gifted will be included in the child support calculation.

Factor #8

Parenting Time

Parenting Time refers to exactly that, the amount each parent spends with the child or children. The more parenting time the mother or father has with the child, the more likely that parent is spending money on the child during that time. Because of this, Arizona utilizes an adjustment for actual parenting time by the noncustodial parent.

This adjustment is calculated by determining the annual parenting time (in days) of the noncustodial parent provided in the parenting plan or by the historical practice of the parents. The annual number of parenting days are then matched to predetermined adjustment percentages provided by the state and the child support is reduced by that amount.

To learn more about calculating parenting time, click here.

If you need help navigating the child support system, Raiff Representation can help. We will use our knowledge, experience, and understanding of the Arizona Court System to help you protect yourself and your children.

If you would like to book a free 30-minuteconsultation with our family law attorney, click here.