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New Arizona Child Support Guidelines: What You Need to Know

Effective January 1, 2022, Arizona adopted new child support guidelines designed to ensure each parent contributes a proportional share toward their child’s total support.

The goals of these guidelines include complying with state and federal law, providing guidance to courts and parents, and establishing reasonable, consistent standards of support. The guidelines apply to all natural and adopted children, whether born in or out of wedlock.

How Much is Child Support in Arizona

The court orders a flat percentage of 25% of the non-custodial parent's income to be paid in child support to the custodial parent.

Child support in Arizona is calculated based on several factors, including:

  • The non-custodial parent's income
  • The number of children
  • The children's ages
  • The amount of time the parent spends with their children
  • The cost of health insurance
  • The cost of daycare
  • Any other extraordinary expenses the child requires

Review the chart below for more details

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) can modify child support orders if there is a change in the circumstances of either parent, such as a change in income or the number of children.

You should contact our child support attorney if facing a child support issue. Our attorney can help you understand your rights and options, and they can represent you in court.

What Is the Priority of the Child Support Obligation?

Child support takes priority over any other financial obligation, even the support of your own parents or stepchildren. This is because parents have a legal duty to support their natural or adopted children.

Does Child Support Negate Spousal Maintenance?

No, the parent entitled to spousal maintenance may also receive child support. In addition, the court determines spousal maintenance first when both are required. However, spousal maintenance is included as gross income. In addition, the spouse paying spousal maintenance may include this as an adjustment in his or her gross income, assuming maintenance is actually being paid.

What Is the Basic Support Obligation?

Schedule of Child Support Obligations

The Center for Policy Research reviewed the Arizona Child Support Schedule to arrive at the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations. The table below describes the basic monthly support amount, which is based on the combined adjusted gross income of both parents. This is the minimum monthly amount a child is expected to “cost” his or her parents and includes standard items such as food and clothing.

This amount forms the basis of the parents’ monthly child support obligation. However, it is not the “final” amount; it may be adjusted to include expenses such as childcare, health insurance, and other recurring incidentals (see the next section).

How Are Adjustments to the Child Support Obligation Determined?

The court uses yearly figures to determine adjustments rather than assigning varying amounts for each month. In other words, expenses that occur only during certain months are calculated yearly and then divided by 12 to arrive at a monthly expense. One example is differences in childcare costs. If before- and after-school care costs $150 per month during the nine months of the school year, the yearly cost is $150 x 9 or $1,350. Divided by 12, the monthly adjustment for this expense is $113 (all amounts are rounded to the closest dollar amount).

This calculation is how you arrive at all adjustments, including fees for sports programs, extracurricular activities, and other occasional expenses.

The Schedule Shows the Basic Child Support. Do Adjustments Make It Higher?

Typically, adjustments increase the child support obligation. Of course, gross income adjustments typically lower the basic child support amount.

Common adjustments include expenses for daycare, education, health insurance, and extraordinary child needs. In addition, the Older Child Adjustment for children 12 and older adds around 10 percent to the basic child support obligation.

What Is the Presumed Support Amount?

The amount suggested by these new guidelines is the presumed child support ordered. However, the court will consider whether applying these guidelines presents an inappropriate or unjust order and will deviate from the guidelines accordingly.

Who Is the Primary Residential Parent?

This is the parent who has the greatest amount of parenting time during the year.

When Will the Court Deviate from these Guidelines?

The court considers all relevant factors when determining an order for child support. If the new Arizona Child Support Guidelines are inappropriate or unjust in your case, or if it is in the best interests of your child, the court will deviate from these guidelines. If this happens, the court makes a written ruling, including what the order would have been without the deviation and what the order is after the deviation.

The court MAY deviate from the guidelines if all parties agree, the agreement is in writing and according to statute, and all parties entered into the agreement with complete understanding of the amount that child support would have been pursuant to these guidelines. If the court is sure all parties entered into the agreement free of duress, it makes a written ruling as above.

Deviations are more common in cases where there is a significant income disparity between parents.

What Is the Duration of Child Support?

When entering a child support order (either initial or modified), the court establishes a presumptive date for termination of the order. This is the last day of the month that the youngest child turns 18 UNLESS the child completes high school after age 18. In that case, the presumptive termination date is the last day of the month he or she is expected to graduate high school or when the child turns 19, whichever comes first. If circumstances change, this date may be modified.

The Order of Assignment issued by the court includes this date. The entity withholding funds for the payment of this order will discontinue withholding after the final pay period of the month of the presumptive termination date. However, if the current payment includes arrearages, the payor will continue withholding until a further order.

The court determines the presumptive date based on two assumptions. First, that the child begins 1st grade if he or she turns 6 on or before September 1. If not, he or she enters 1st grade the following year. Second, that the child will graduate from high school during the month of May, after completing the 12th grade. Examples:

  • If your child turns 6 on June 20, 2019, the child support order ends June 30, 2031, the month he or she turns 18.
  • If your child’s birthday is February 20, 2019, the child support order ends May 31, 2031, because his or her 18th birthday occurs during the school year.
  • If his or her 6th birthday is September 30, 2019, the child support order ends May 31, 2032, since he or she turned 18 during the school year and that is the presumed month of high school graduation.

How Is Gross Income Determined?

The combined gross income of both parents forms the basis of the amount of child support, so it’s important to know what the court considers “income.”

In essence, this includes all income, not just wages from traditional employment. Gross income may include, but is not limited to:

  • Salaries, wages, bonuses, and commissions
  • Annuities
  • Capital gains
  • Dividends and interest
  • Recurring gifts
  • Self-employment
  • Severance pay and pensions
  • Spousal maintenance
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Workers’ compensation benefits

Non-cash benefits are assigned a cash value and seasonal income is annualized the same way adjustments are.

Child support is not considered part of income (because the funds are owed to the child, not the parent receiving them on behalf of the child). Public assistance is also not counted as income, including SSI and TANF.

My Job Pays a Per Diem. Is that Counted as Income?

Yes, payments from your employer that reduce living expenses significantly are counted as income.

Combined Adjusted Gross IncomeOne ChildTwo ChildrenThree ChildrenFour ChildrenFive ChildrenSix Children
750159243293328360392
800170258312349384417
850180274331370407443
900190290351392431468
950201306370413454494
1000211321389434477519
1050221337407454500543
1100230351424473521566
1150239365441492542589
1200249379458511562611
1250258393475530583634
1300267407491549604656
1350276421508568625679
1400285435525587645702
1450295449542606666724
1500304463559625687747
1550313477576643708769
1600322491593662729792
1650331504610681749815
1700340518627700770837
1750350532644719791860
1800359546661738812882
1850368560678757832905
1900377574694775853927
1950386588711794873949
2000395601727812893971
2050404615744831914993
21004136297608499341015
21504226427778679541037
22004316567938869741059
22504406708109049951081
230044968382692310151103
235045869784294110351125
240046771185995910551147
245047672487597810761169
250048573889299610961191
2550494751908101511161213
2600502765925103311361235
2650511779941105211571257
2700520792958107011771279
2750529806974108811971301
2800538820991110712181323
28505478331007112512381345
29005568471024114412581367
29505658611040116212781389
30005748741057118012981411
30505838881073119813181433
31005929011089121713381455
31506019151106123513581477
32006099281122125313791498
32506189421138127113991520
33006279551155129014191542
33506369681170130714381563
34006459801184132214541581
34506549921197133714711599
350066310031210135214871617
355067210151224136715041634
360068010271237138215201652
365068910381251139715371670
370069810501264141215531688
375070710621277142715701706
380071610731291144215861724
385072510851304145716021742
390073310971318147216201761
395074111101334149016391781
400075011231349150716581802
405075811371365152416771823
410076611501380154216961843
415077411631396155917151864
420078211761411157617341885
425079011891427159317531905
430079812021442161117721926
435080612151458162817911947
440081312281472164418091966
445082012391485165918251984
450082612471495167018371997
455083112561505168118502010
460083712641515169318622024
465084312731525170418742037
470084812811535171518872051
475085412891545172618992064
480086012981556173819112078
485086513061566174919242091
490087113151576176019362104
495087713231586177119482118
500088313321596178219612131
505088813401606179419732145
510089313471614180319832155
515089613521619180919902163
520090013571625181519972170
525090313621631182120042178
530090713671636182820112185
535091013721642183420172193
540091413771648184020242200
545091713821653184720312208
550092113871659185320382216
555092413921664185920452223
560092713971670186520522231
565093114021676187220592238
570093414071681187820662246
575093814111685188220702251
580094114141688188520742254
585094414181691188920782258
590094714211694189220812262
595095014251697189520852266
600095314291700189920882270
605095614321703190220922274
610095914361705190520962278
615096214391708190820992282
620096614431711191221032286
625096914471714191521062290
630097214501717191821102293
635097514541720192121132297
640097914611729193221252310
645098414681739194221372322
650098814751749195321482335
655099214831758196421602348
660099714901768197521722361
6650100114971778198621842374
6700100515051787199621962387
6750101015121797200722082400
6800101415191807201822202413
6850101815271816202922322426
6900102315341826204022442439
6950102715411836205122562452
7000103115481845206022662464
7050103415511847206322692467
7100103615541850206622732470
7150103915571852206922762474
7200104215601854207122792477
7250104415631857207422822480
7300104715661859207722852483
7350105015691862208022882487
7400105215721864208222912490
7450105515751867208522942493
7500105815781869208822972497
7550106015811872209123002500
7600106315841874209323032503
7650106615881877209723072507
7700107015931882210323132514
7750107315981887210823192521
7800107716021892211323252527
7850108116071897211923312534
7900108416121902212423372540
7950108816171907213023432547
8000109216221912213523492553
8050109516271917214123552560
8100109916311921214623612566
8150110316361926215223672573
8200110616411931215723732579
8250111016461936216223792586
8300111416521942217023872594
8350112016591951217923972605
8400112516671959218824072616
8450113016741967219724172627
8500113516811975220624272638
8550114116891984221624372649
8600114616961992222524472660
8650115117042000223424572671
8700115717112008224324682682
8750116217192017225224782693
8800116717262025226224882704
8850117317342033227124982715
8900117817412041228025082726
8950118317482050228925182737
9000118817562058229925282748
9050119417632066230825392759
9100119917712074231725492770
9150120417782083232625592781
9200121017862091233525692792
9250121517932099234525792803
9300121918002107235425892814
9350122318062116236325992826
9400122718132124237226102837
9450123118192132238226202848
9500123518252141239126302859
9550123918322149240026402870
9600124318382157241026502881
9650124618452165241926612892
9700125018512174242826712903
9750125418572182243726812914
9800125818642190244726912925
9850126218702199245627012937
9900126618762207246527122948
9950127018832215247427222959
10000127418892224248427322970
10050127718962232249327422981
10100128119022240250227532992
10150128519082248251227633003
10200128919152257252127733014
10250129319212265253027833025
10300129619262270253627893032
10350129919302275254127953038
10400130219342279254628003044
10450130519382284255128063050
10500130819422288255628123056
10550131119472293256128173063
10600131419512298256628233069
10650131719552302257228293075
10700132019592307257728343081
10750132319632312258228403087
10800132619682316258728463093
10850132919722321259228513100
10900133219762325259728573106
10950133519802330260328633112
11000133819842335260828683118
11050134119892339261328743124
11100134419932344261828803130
11150134719972348262328853137
11200135020012353262828913143
11250135420062358263428973149
11300135720112363264029033156
11350136120162368264529103163
11400136520212374265129173170
11450136920262379265729233177
11500137320322385266429303185
11550137820372390267029373193
11600138220432396267729443200
11650138620492402268329513208
11700139020542408269029593216
11750139520602414269629663224
11800139920662420270329733232
11850140320712425270929803239
11900140720772431271629873247
11950141220832437272229953255
12000141620882443272930023263
12050142020942449273530093271
12100142521002455274230163278
12150142921052461274830233286
12200143321112466275530303294
12250143721172472276130383302
12300144221222478276830453310
12350144621282484277430523317
12400145021342490278130593325
12450145421392496278830663333
12500145821442500279230713339
12550146021472503279630753343
12600146321502506279930793347
12650146621542509280330833352
12700146821572513280730873356
12750147121612516281030913360
12800147421642519281430953365
12850147721672522281830993369
12900147921712526282131033373
12950148221742529282531073378
13000148521782532282931113382
13050148721812536283231153386
13100149021852539283631193391
13150149321882542283931233395
13200149621912545284331273400
13250149821952549284731313404
13300150121982552285031353408
13350150422022555285431393413
13400150622052558285831433417
13450150922082562286131473421
13500151222122565286531513426
13550151522152568286931553430
13600151722192571287231603434
13650152022222575287631643439
13700152422282581288331723448
13750152922362590289331833459
13800153422432599290331933471
13850153922502608291332043483
13900154422582616292332153495
13950154922652625293232263506
14000155422732634294232363518
14050155922802643295232473530
14100156422882651296232583541
14150156922952660297132683553
14200157423022669298132793564
14250157923102678299132903576
14300158423172686300133013588
14350158923252695301033113599
14400159423322704302033223611
14450159923392712303033333623
14500160423472721304033433634
14550160923542730304933543646
14600161423622739305933653658
14650161923692747306933753669
14700162423752755307733853679
14750162823822763308633943690
14800163223892770309434043700
14850163723952778310334133710
14900164124022786311234233721
14950164624082793312034323731
15000165024152801312934423741
15050165524212809313834513752
15100165924282817314634613762
15150166324342824315534703772
15200166824412832316334803783
15250167224482840317234893793
15300167724542848318134993803
15350168124612855318935083813
15400168624672863319835183824
15450169024742871320735273834
15500169424802878321535373844
15550169924872886322435463855
15600170324932893323235553864
15650170724982898323735613870
15700171025022903324235673877
15750171425072907324835723883
15800171725122912325335783890
15850172125162917325835843896
15900172425212922326435903902
15950172825262927326935963909
16000173125302931327436023915
16050173525352936328036083922
16100173825402941328536143928
16150174225442946329036193934
16200174525492951329636253941
16250174925542955330136313947
16300175225582960330636373954
16350175625632965331236433960
16400176025682970331736493966
16450176325722974332236553973
16500176725772979332836613979
16550177025822984333336663985
16600177425862989333836723992
16650177725912994334436783998
16700178125962998334936844005
16750178426003003335436904011
16800178826053008336036964017
16850179126093012336537014023
16900179526143017337037074030
16950179826193022337537134036
17000180226233027338137194042
17050180526283031338637254049
17100180826323036339137304055
17150181226373041339737364061
17200181526423045340237424068
17250181926463050340737484074
17300182226513055341237544080
17350182626553060341837594086
17400182926603064342337654093
17450183326653069342837714099
17500183626693074343337774105
17550184026743078343937834112
17600184326783083344437884118
17650184726833088344937944124
17700185026883093345438004130
17750185426923097346038064137
17800185726973102346538114143
17850186127013107347038174149
17900186427063111347638234156
17950186827113116348138294162
18000187127153121348638354168
18050187527203126349138404175
18100187827243130349738464181
18150188227293135350238524187
18200188527343140350738584193
18250188827383144351238644200
18300189227433149351838694206
18350189527473154352338754213
18400189827523161353138844222
18450190127573168353838924231
18500190427623174354639004240
18550190727673181355339094249
18600191027723188356139174258
18650191327773195356839254267
18700191627823201357639334276
18750191827873208358339424285
18800192127923215359139504294
18850192427973221359839584303
18900192728023228360639664312
18950193028073235361339754321
19000193328123242362139834330
19050193628173248362839914339
19100193928223255363640004348
19150194228273262364440084357
19200194528323269365140164366
19250194828373275365940244375
19300195028423282366640334384
19350195328473289367440414393
19400195628523296368140494402
19450195928573302368940584411
19500196228623309369640664420
19550196528673316370440744429
19600196828723322371140824437
19650197128773329371940914446
19700197428823336372640994455
19750197728873343373441074464
19800197928923349374141154473
19850198228973356374941244482
19900198529023363375641324491
19950198829073370376441404500
20000199129123376377141494509
20050199429173383377941574518
20100199729223390378641654527
20150200029273397379441734536
20200200329323403380141824545
20250200629373410380941904554
20300200929423417381741984563
20350201129473423382442064572
20400201429523430383242154581
20450201729573437383942234590
20500202029623444384742314599
20550202329673450385442404608
20600202629723457386242484617
20650202929773464386942564626
20700203229823471387742644635
20750203529873477388442734644
20800203829923484389242814653
20850204129973491389942894662
20900204330023498390742974671
20950204630073504391443064680
21000204930123511392243144689
21050205230173518392943224698
21100205530223525393743314707
21150205830273531394443394716
21200206130323538395243474725
21250206430373545395943554734
21300206730423551396743644743
21350207030473558397443724752
21400207230523565398243804761
21450207530573572399043884770
21500207830623578399743974779
21550208130673585400544054788
21600208430723592401244134797
21650208730773599402044224806
21700209030823605402744304815
21750209330873612403544384824
21800209630923619404244464833
21850209930973626405044554842
21900210231023632405744634851
21950210431073639406544714860
22000210731123646407244794869
22050211031173652408044884878
22100211331223659408744964887
22150211631273666409545044896
22200211931323673410245134905
22250212231373679411045214914
22300212531423686411745294923
22350212831473693412545374932
22400213131523700413245464941
22450213431573706414045544950
22500213631623713414745624959
22550213931673720415545714968
22600214231723727416345794977
22650214531773733417045874986
22700214831823740417845954995
22750215131873747418546045004
22800215431923753419346125013
22850215731973760420046205022
22900216032023767420846285031
22950216332073774421546375040
23000216532123780422346455049
23050216832173787423046535058
23100217132223794423846625067
23150217432273801424546705076
23200217732323807425346785085
23250218032373814426046865094
23300218332423821426846955103
23350218632473828427547035112
23400218932523834428347115121
23450219232573841429047195130
23500219532623848429847285139
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