Arizona Child Support Guidelines

In Arizona, calculation of child support is done using a formula set forth in the Arizona Child Support Guidelines.    To the untrained, the formula can seem complex.   There is no set, per-child amount for child support.  The ultimate child support amount is determined by the several variables used in the formula calculation.  These variables include the number of children, the parents’ monthly gross incomes, the cost of supporting children not common to the parties,  the cost of medical insurance premiums for the children, the amount of child care expenses for the children, the parenting time schedule, and several other factors.

Once the variables are determined, it is relatively simple for an experienced child support lawyer to calculate the resulting child support amount.  The key, however, is determining those variables.  When people have court battles over child support calculations, the battle is not over how to run the formula/calculation.  Rather, the battle is over the variables or figures that go into the calculation.

The mother may argue that the income shown on the self-employed father’s tax return is not accurate.   She will ask the judge to use a higher income figure for the father in the calculation than the father thinks is appropriate.  The father may argue that he exercises more parenting time with the children than the mother claims and that his child support obligation should therefore be lower than the mother asserts.

Approximately every four years, the child support guidelines are revised and updated to address changes in inflation, cost of living, and so forth.  The latest version of the Arizona Guidelines became effective April 1, 2018.  All Arizona child support calculations done on/after this date–initial calculations as well as modifications–will use the April 1, 2018 guidelines’ formula.