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HB 2254 - Child support schedule

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Section 1

  1. Neither parent's child support obligation owed for all his or her biological or legal children may exceed 45 percent of net income except for good cause shown.

    1. Each child is entitled to a pro rata share of the income available for support, but the court only applies the pro rata share to the children in the case before the court.

    2. Before determining whether to apply the 45 percent limitation, the court must consider whether it would be unjust to apply the limitation after considering the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and any involuntary limits on either parent's earning capacity including incarceration, disabilities, or incapacity.

    3. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, possession of substantial wealth, children with day care expenses, special medical need, educational need, psychological need, and larger families.

  2. (a) When a parent's monthly net income is below 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a one-person family, a support order of not less than $50 per child per month shall be entered unless the obligor parent establishes that it would be unjust to do so in that particular case. The decision whether there is a sufficient basis to deviate below the presumptive minimum payment must take into consideration the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances can include leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and earning capacity.

    1. The basic support obligation of the parent making the transfer payment, excluding health care, day care, and special child-rearing expenses, shall not reduce his or her net income below the self-support reserve of 180 percent of the federal poverty level for a one-person family, except for the presumptive minimum payment of $50 per child per month or when it would be unjust to apply the self-support reserve limitation after considering the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and earning capacity. This section shall not be construed to require monthly substantiation of income.

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      1. When a parent's income is greater than the self-support reserve of 180 percent of the federal poverty level for a one-person household, neither parent's basic child support obligation owed for all of his or her biological or legal children may reduce that parent's income below the self-support reserve of 180 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a one-person household except for the presumptive minimum of $50 per child per month.

      2. Each child is entitled to a pro rata share of the income available for support but the court only applies the pro rata share to the children in the case before the court. Before determining whether to apply this limitation, the court should consider whether it would be unjust to apply the limitation after considering the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances may include leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and earning capacity.

  3. The economic table is presumptive for combined monthly net incomes up to and including $50,000. When combined monthly net income exceeds $50,000, the court may exceed the presumptive amount of support set for combined monthly net incomes of $50,000 upon written findings of fact.

Section 2

  1. All income and resources of each parent's household shall be disclosed and considered by the court when the court determines the child support obligation of each parent. Only the income of the parents of the children whose support is at issue shall be calculated for purposes of calculating the basic support obligation. Income and resources of any other person shall not be included in calculating the basic support obligation.

  2. Tax returns for the preceding two years and current paystubs shall be provided to verify income and deductions. Other sufficient verification shall be required for income and deductions which do not appear on tax returns or paystubs.

  3. Except as specifically excluded in subsection (4) of this section, monthly gross income shall include income from any source, including:

    1. Salaries;

    2. Wages;

    3. Commissions;

    4. Deferred compensation;

    5. Overtime, except as excluded for income in subsection (4)(i) of this section;

    6. Contract-related benefits;

    7. Income from second jobs, except as excluded for income in subsection (4)(i) of this section;

    8. Dividends;

      1. Interest;
    9. Trust income;

    10. Severance pay;

    11. Annuities;

    12. Capital gains;

    13. Pension retirement benefits;

    14. Workers' compensation;

    15. Unemployment benefits;

    16. Maintenance actually received;

    17. Bonuses;

    18. Social security benefits;

    19. Disability insurance benefits; and

    20. Income from self-employment, rent, royalties, contracts, proprietorship of a business, or joint ownership of a partnership or closely held corporation.

  4. The following income and resources shall be disclosed but shall not be included in gross income:

    1. Income of a new spouse or new domestic partner or income of other adults in the household;

    2. Child support received from other relationships;

    3. Gifts and prizes;

    4. Temporary assistance for needy families;

    5. Supplemental security income;

    6. Aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits;

    7. Pregnant women assistance benefits;

    8. Food stamps; and

      1. Overtime or income from second jobs beyond 40 hours per week averaged over a 12-month period worked to provide for a current family's needs, to retire past relationship debts, or to retire child support debt, when the court finds the income will cease when the party has paid off his or her debts.

Receipt of income and resources from temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental security income, aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits, and food stamps shall not be a reason to deviate from the standard calculation.

  1. The following expenses shall be disclosed and deducted from gross monthly income to calculate net monthly income:

    1. Federal and state income taxes;

    2. Federal insurance contributions act deductions;

    3. Mandatory pension plan payments;

    4. Mandatory union or professional dues;

    5. Mandatory state insurance premiums actually paid;

    6. State industrial insurance premiums;

    7. Court-ordered maintenance to the extent actually paid;

    8. Up to $5,000 per year in voluntary retirement contributions actually made if the contributions show a pattern of contributions during the one-year period preceding the action establishing the child support order unless there is a determination that the contributions were made for the purpose of reducing child support; and

      1. Normal business expenses and self-employment taxes for self-employed persons. Justification shall be required for any business expense deduction about which there is disagreement.

Items deducted from gross income under this subsection shall not be a reason to deviate from the standard calculation.

  1. The court shall impute income to a parent when the parent is voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed. The court shall determine whether the parent is voluntarily underemployed or voluntarily unemployed based upon that parent's assets, residence, employment and earnings history, job skills, educational attainment, literacy, health, age, criminal record, dependency court obligations, and other employment barriers, record of seeking work, the local job market, the availability of employers willing to hire the parent, the prevailing earnings level in the local community, or any other relevant factors. A court shall not impute income to a parent who is gainfully employed on a full-time basis, unless the court finds that the parent is voluntarily underemployed and finds that the parent is purposely underemployed to reduce the parent's child support obligation. Income shall not be imputed for an unemployable parent. Income shall not be imputed to a parent to the extent the parent is unemployed or significantly underemployed due to the parent's efforts to comply with court-ordered reunification efforts under chapter 13.34 RCW or under a voluntary placement agreement with an agency supervising the child.

    1. Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, in the absence of records of a parent's actual earnings, the court shall impute a parent's income in the following order of priority:

      1. Full-time earnings at the current rate of pay;

      2. Full-time earnings at the historical rate of pay based on reliable information, such as employment security department data;

      3. Full-time earnings at a past rate of pay where information is incomplete or sporadic;

      4. Earnings of 32 hours per week at minimum wage in the jurisdiction where the parent resides if the parent is on or recently coming off temporary assistance for needy families or recently coming off aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits, pregnant women assistance benefits, essential needs and housing support, supplemental security income, or disability, has recently been released from incarceration, or is a recent high school graduate. Imputation of earnings at 32 hours per week under this subsection is a rebuttable presumption;

    2. Full-time earnings at minimum wage in the jurisdiction where the parent resides if the parent has a recent history of minimum wage earnings, has never been employed and has no earnings history, or has no significant earnings history;

    1. Median net monthly income of year-round full-time workers as derived from the United States bureau of census, current population reports, or such replacement report as published by the bureau of census.
    1. When a parent is currently enrolled in high school full-time, the court shall consider the totality of the circumstances of both parents when determining whether each parent is voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed. If a parent who is currently enrolled in high school is determined to be voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed, the court shall impute income at earnings of 20 hours per week at minimum wage in the jurisdiction where that parent resides. Imputation of earnings at 20 hours per week under this subsection is a rebuttable presumption.

Section 3

  1. The basic child support obligation derived from the economic table shall be allocated between the parents based on each parent's share of the combined monthly net income.

  2. Health care costs are not included in the economic table. Monthly health care costs shall be shared by the parents in the same proportion as the basic child support obligation. Health care costs shall include, but not be limited to, medical, dental, orthodontia, vision, chiropractic, mental health treatment, prescription medications, and other similar costs for care and treatment.

  3. Day care and special child rearing expenses, such as tuition and long-distance transportation costs to and from the parents for visitation purposes, are not included in the economic table. These expenses shall be shared by the parents in the same proportion as the basic child support obligation. If an obligor pays court or administratively ordered day care or special child rearing expenses that are not actually incurred, the obligee must reimburse the obligor for the overpayment if the overpayment amounts to at least 20 percent of the obligor's annual day care or special child rearing expenses. The obligor may institute an action in the superior court or file an application for an adjudicative hearing with the department of social and health services for reimbursement of day care and special child rearing expense overpayments that amount to 20 percent or more of the obligor's annual day care and special child rearing expenses. Any ordered overpayment reimbursement shall be applied first as an offset to child support arrearages of the obligor. If the obligor does not have child support arrearages, the reimbursement may be in the form of a direct reimbursement by the obligee or a credit against the obligor's future support payments. If the reimbursement is in the form of a credit against the obligor's future child support payments, the credit shall be spread equally over a 12-month period. Absent agreement of the obligee, nothing in this section entitles an obligor to pay more than his or her proportionate share of day care or other special child rearing expenses in advance and then deduct the overpayment from future support transfer payments.

  4. Mandatory educational expenses and optional educational expenses are not included in the economic table. These expenses must be shared by the parents in the same proportion as the basic child support obligation. Mandatory educational expenses include, but are not limited to, tuition, books and materials, required electronic devices, and required school payments or fees. Optional educational expenses are expenses that a student incurs to fully participate in school activities including, but not limited to, sports fees, sports uniforms, band fees, band uniforms, yearbooks, driving classes, and other expenses for participation in school programs or activities.

  5. The court may exercise its discretion to determine the necessity for and the reasonableness of all amounts ordered in excess of the basic child support obligation.

Section 4

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

Section 5

  1. Either the department, the person required to pay support, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may make a request for abatement of child support based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support.

  2. When a child support order contains language providing for abatement based on incapacitation of the person required to pay child support, there is a rebuttable presumption that an incapacitated person is unable to pay the child support obligation. The presumption may be rebutted by evidence demonstrating that the person required to pay support has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incapacitated. Unless the presumption is rebutted, the provisions of subsection (4) of this section apply.

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    1. If the child support order does not contain language providing for abatement based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support, the department, the person required to pay support, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may commence an action in the appropriate forum to:

      1. Modify the support order to contain abatement language; and

      2. Abate the person's child support obligation due to current incapacitation for a maximum of six months.

    2. In a proceeding brought under this subsection, there is a rebuttable presumption that an incapacitated person is unable to pay the child support obligation. The department, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support, may rebut the presumption by demonstrating that the person required to pay support has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incapacitated.

    3. Unless the presumption is rebutted, the provisions of subsection (4) of this section apply.

  4. If the court or administrative forum determines that abatement of support is appropriate, the court or administrative forum must enter an order providing that:

    1. The child support obligation under the order in front of the court is abated to $50 per month, without regard to the number of children covered by that order, while the person required to pay support is undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.

    2. Abatement of the support obligation to $50 per month will remain in place until the earlier of: The last day of the month in which the person is discharged from court-ordered behavioral health treatment; or the last day of the six months after the effective date of the abatement order.

    3. After abatement of support is terminated, the support obligation of the person required to pay support under the order is automatically reinstated at 100 percent of the support amount provided in the underlying order.

      1. Upon a showing of good cause by a party that the circumstances of the case allow it, the court or administrative forum may add specific provisions to the order abating the child support obligation regarding when and how the abatement may terminate.

      2. During the period of abatement, the department, the person required to pay support, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may commence an action to modify the child support order under RCW 26.09.170 or 74.20A.059.

  5. If the incapacitated person's support obligation under the order has been abated and then reinstated under subsection (4) of this section:

    1. Either the department, the person required to pay support, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may file an action to modify or adjust the order in the appropriate forum, if:

      1. The provisions of subsection (4)(c) of this section do not apply; and

      2. The person required to pay support has completed court-ordered behavioral health treatment.

    2. An action to modify or adjust the order based on the completion of court-ordered behavioral health treatment of the person required to pay support may be filed even if there is no other change of circumstances.

  6. The effective date of abatement of a child support obligation based on incapacitation to $50 per month per order is the date on which the person required to pay support is approved for abatement by the court or administrative forum.

  7. Abatement of a child support obligation based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support does not constitute modification or adjustment of the order.

  8. Abatement of a child support obligation based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support shall only be approved one time in a person's lifetime, regardless of whether the abatement lasted the full six months.

  9. A request for the abatement of child support owed under one child support order does not automatically qualify as a request for abatement of support owed under every order that may exist requiring that person to pay support. However, the request applies to any support order which is being enforced by the department at the time of the request.

  10. If there are multiple orders requiring the incapacitated person to pay child support, the issue of whether abatement of support due to incapacitation is appropriate must be considered for each order.

    1. The payee or person entitled to receive support under each support order is entitled to notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the potential abatement of support under that order.

    2. If the child or children covered by a support order are not residing with the payee under the order, any other person entitled to receive support for the child or children must be provided notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the potential abatement of support under that order.

Section 6

  1. When a child support order contains language regarding abatement to $50 per month per order based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support, and the department is notified that the person is currently undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment, the department must:

    1. Review the support order for abatement once the department receives notice from the person required to pay support or someone acting on his or her behalf that the person may qualify for abatement of support;

    2. Review its records and other available information to determine if the person required to pay support has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incapacitated; and

    3. Decide whether abatement of the person's support obligation is appropriate.

  2. If the department decides that abatement of the person's support obligation is appropriate, the department must notify the person required to pay support, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support, that the person's support obligation has been abated and that the abatement will continue while the person is undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment for a maximum of six months. The notification must include the following information:

    1. That the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support may object to the abatement of support due to incapacitation;

      1. An objection must be received within 20 days of the notification of abatement;

      2. Any objection will be forwarded to the office of administrative hearings for an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW;

      3. The department, the person required to pay support, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support, all have the right to participate in the administrative hearing as parties; and

      4. The burden of proof is on the party objecting to the abatement of support to show that the person required to pay support has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incapacitated;

    2. The effective date of the abatement of support;

    3. The estimated date that the abatement will end;

    4. That the person required to pay support, the payee under the order, the person entitled to receive support, or the department may file an action to modify the underlying support order once the person required to pay support is no longer undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment, as provided under section 5(5) of this act; and

    5. That if the abated obligation was established by a court order, the department will file a copy of the notification in the court file.

  3. If the department decides that abatement of the person's support obligation is not appropriate, the department must notify the person required to pay support and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support, that the department does not believe that abatement of the support obligation should occur. The notification must include the following information:

    1. The reasons why the department decided that abatement of the support obligation is not appropriate;

    2. The person required to pay support and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support may object to the department's decision not to abate the support obligation;

      1. An objection must be received within 20 days of the notification of abatement;

      2. Any objection will be forwarded to the office of administrative hearings for an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW; and

      3. The department, the incapacitated person, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support all have the right to participate in the administrative hearing as parties; and

    3. That, if the administrative law judge enters an order providing that abatement is appropriate, the department will take appropriate steps to document the abatement and will provide notification to the parties as required in subsection (2) of this section.

Section 7

When a court or administrative order does not contain language regarding abatement based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support and the department receives notice that the person is currently undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment, the department must refer the case to the appropriate forum for a determination of whether the order should be modified to:

  1. Contain abatement language as provided in section 5 of this act; and

  2. Abate the person's child support obligation due to current incapacitation in accordance with section 5 of this act.

Section 8

  1. At any time during abatement based on incapacitation of the person required to pay support, the department, the payee under the order, or the person entitled to receive support may file a request to reverse or terminate the abatement of support by demonstrating that the incapacitated person has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.

    1. A request for reversal or termination of the abatement may be filed with the department or with the office of administrative hearings.

    2. The request must include documents or other evidence showing that the person has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.

    3. If the request for a hearing does not include documents or evidence showing that the person has possession of, or access to, income or assets, the department may file a motion asking that the request for a hearing be dismissed before a hearing is scheduled or held.

    4. The party seeking to reverse or terminate the abatement may seek to vacate the dismissal order by filing a motion which includes the required proof.

    5. Depending on the type of evidence provided at the hearing, the administrative law judge may order that the abatement of the support obligation be:

      1. Reversed, meaning that the determination that support should be abated is vacated and all amounts owed under the support order are reinstated; or

      2. Terminated, meaning that the abatement of support ends as of the date specified in the order.

  2. At any time during the period of abatement based on incapacitation, the person required to pay support may file a request to reverse or terminate the abatement of support.

    1. The request for reversal or termination of the abatement may be filed with the department or with the office of administrative hearings.

    2. The person required to pay support is not required to provide any documents or other evidence to support the request.

  3. Abatement of a support obligation does not constitute modification or adjustment of the order.

Section 9

  1. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.09.070(7), the provisions of any decree respecting maintenance or support may be modified: (a) Only as to installments accruing subsequent to the petition for modification or motion for adjustment except motions to compel court-ordered adjustments, which shall be effective as of the first date specified in the decree for implementing the adjustment; and, (b) except as otherwise provided in this section, only upon a showing of a substantial change of circumstances. The provisions as to property disposition may not be revoked or modified, unless the court finds the existence of conditions that justify the reopening of a judgment under the laws of this state.

  2. Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree the obligation to pay future maintenance is terminated upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance or registration of a new domestic partnership of the party receiving maintenance.

  3. Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree, provisions for the support of a child are terminated by emancipation of the child or by the death of the person required to pay support for the child.

  4. Unless expressly provided by an order of the superior court or a court of comparable jurisdiction, provisions for the support of a child are terminated upon the marriage or registration of a domestic partnership to each other of parties to a paternity or parentage order, or upon the remarriage or registration of a domestic partnership to each other of parties to a decree of dissolution. The remaining provisions of the order, including provisions establishing parentage, remain in effect.

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    1. A party to an order of child support may petition for a modification based upon a showing of substantially changed circumstances at any time.

    2. The voluntary unemployment or voluntary underemployment of the person required to pay support, by itself, is not a substantial change of circumstances.

  6. An order of child support may be modified at any time to add language regarding abatement to $10 per month per order due to the incarceration of the person required to pay support, as provided in RCW 26.09.320, or abatement to $50 per month per order due to incapacitation of the person required to pay support, as provided in section 5 of this act.

    1. The department of social and health services, the person entitled to receive support or the payee under the order, or the person required to pay support may petition for a prospective modification of a child support order if : (i) The person required to pay support is currently confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility for at least six months or is serving a sentence greater than six months in a jail, prison, or correctional facility, and the support order does not contain language regarding abatement due to incarceration; or (ii) the person required to pay support is currently undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment and the support order does not contain language regarding abatement due to incapacitation.

    2. The petition may only be filed if the person required to pay support is currently incarcerated or incapacitated.

    3. As part of the petition for modification, the petitioner may also request that the support obligation be abated to $10 per month per order due to incarceration, as provided in RCW 26.09.320, or abated to $50 per month per order due to incapacitation, as provided in section 5 of this act.

  7. An order of child support may be modified without showing a substantial change of circumstances if the requested modification is to : (a) Modify an existing order when the person required to pay support has been released from incarceration, as provided in RCW 26.09.320(3)(d); or (b) modify an existing order when the person required to pay support has completed court-ordered behavioral health treatment, as provided in section 5(5) of this act.

  8. An order of child support may be modified one year or more after it has been entered without a showing of substantially changed circumstances:

    1. If the order in practice works a severe economic hardship on either party or the child;

    2. If a child is still in high school, upon a finding that there is a need to extend support beyond the eighteenth birthday to complete high school; or

    3. To add an automatic adjustment of support provision consistent with RCW 26.09.100.

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    1. If 24 months have passed from the date of the entry of the order or the last adjustment or modification, whichever is later, the order may be adjusted without a showing of substantially changed circumstances based upon:

      1. Changes in the income of the person required to pay support, or of the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support who is a parent of the child or children covered by the order; or

      2. Changes in the economic table or standards in chapter 26.19 RCW.

    2. Either party may initiate the adjustment by filing a motion and child support worksheets.

    3. If the court adjusts or modifies a child support obligation pursuant to this subsection by more than 30 percent and the change would cause significant hardship, the court may implement the change in two equal increments, one at the time of the entry of the order and the second six months from the entry of the order. Twenty-four months must pass following the second change before a motion for another adjustment under this subsection may be filed.

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    1. The department of social and health services may file an action to modify or adjust an order of child support if public assistance money is being paid to or for the benefit of the child and the department has determined that the child support order is at least 15 percent above or below the appropriate child support amount set forth in the standard calculation as defined in RCW 26.19.011.

    2. The department of social and health services may file an action to modify or adjust an order of child support in a nonassistance case if:

      1. The department has determined that the child support order is at least 15 percent above or below the appropriate child support amount set forth in the standard calculation as defined in RCW 26.19.011;

      2. The department has determined the case meets the department's review criteria; and

      3. A party to the order or another state or jurisdiction has requested a review.

    3. If incarceration of the person required to pay support is the basis for the difference between the existing child support order amount and the proposed amount of support determined as a result of a review, the department may file an action to modify or adjust an order of child support even if:

      1. There is no other change of circumstances; and

      2. The change in support does not meet the 15 percent threshold.

    4. The determination of whether the child support order is at least 15 percent above or below the appropriate child support amount must be based on the current income of the parties.

  11. The department of social and health services may file an action to modify or adjust an order of child support under subsections (5) through (9) of this section if:

    1. Public assistance money is being paid to or for the benefit of the child;

    2. A party to the order in a nonassistance case has requested a review; or

    3. Another state or jurisdiction has requested a modification of the order.

  12. If testimony other than affidavit is required in any proceeding under this section, a court of this state shall permit a party or witness to be deposed or to testify under penalty of perjury by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means, unless good cause is shown.

Section 10

  1. If the division of child support is providing support enforcement services under RCW 26.23.045, or if a party is applying for support enforcement services by signing the application form on the bottom of the support order, the superior court shall include in all court orders that establish or modify a support obligation:

    1. A provision that orders and directs the person required to pay support to make all support payments to the Washington state support registry;

    2. A statement that withholding action may be taken against wages, earnings, assets, or benefits, and liens enforced against real and personal property under the child support statutes of this or any other state, without further notice to the person required to pay support at any time after entry of the court order, unless:

      1. One of the parties demonstrates, and the court finds, that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding and that withholding should be delayed until a payment is past due; or

      2. The parties reach a written agreement that is approved by the court that provides for an alternate arrangement;

    3. A statement that the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support might be required to submit an accounting of how the support, including any cash medical support, is being spent to benefit the child;

    4. A statement that a party to the support order who is required to provide health care coverage for the child or children covered by the order must notify the division of child support and the other party to the support order when the coverage terminates;

    5. A statement that any privilege of the person required to pay support to obtain and maintain a license, as defined in RCW 74.20A.320, may not be renewed, or may be suspended if the person is not in compliance with a support order as provided in RCW 74.20A.320;

    6. A statement that the support obligation under the order may be abated as provided in RCW 26.09.320 if the person required to pay support is confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility for at least six months, or is serving a sentence greater than six months in a jail, prison, or correctional facility; and

    7. A statement that the support obligation under the order may be abated as provided in section 5 of this act if the person required to pay support is undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.

As used in this subsection and subsection (3) of this section, "good cause not to require immediate income withholding" means a written determination of why implementing immediate wage withholding would not be in the child's best interests and, in modification cases, proof of timely payment of previously ordered support.

  1. In all other cases not under subsection (1) of this section, the court may order the person required to pay support to make payments directly to the person entitled to receive the payments, to the Washington state support registry, or may order that payments be made in accordance with an alternate arrangement agreed upon by the parties.

    1. The superior court shall include in all orders under this subsection that establish or modify a support obligation:

      1. A statement that withholding action may be taken against wages, earnings, assets, or benefits, and liens enforced against real and personal property under the child support statutes of this or any other state, without further notice to the person required to pay support at any time after entry of the court order, unless:

(A) One of the parties demonstrates, and the court finds, that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding and that withholding should be delayed until a payment is past due; or

(B) The parties reach a written agreement that is approved by the court that provides for an alternate arrangement;

    ii. A statement that the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support may be required to submit an accounting of how the support is being spent to benefit the child;

    iii. A statement that any party to the order required to provide health care coverage for the child or children covered by the order must notify the division of child support and the other party to the order when the coverage terminates; and

    iv. A statement that a party to the order seeking to enforce the other party's obligation to provide health care coverage may:

(A) File a motion in the underlying superior court action; or

(B) If there is not already an underlying superior court action, initiate an action in the superior court.

As used in this subsection, "good cause not to require immediate income withholding" is any reason that the court finds appropriate.

b. The superior court may order immediate or delayed income withholding as follows:

    i. Immediate income withholding may be ordered if the person required to pay support has earnings. If immediate income withholding is ordered under this subsection, all support payments shall be paid to the Washington state support registry. The superior court shall issue a mandatory wage assignment order as set forth in chapter 26.18 RCW when the support order is signed by the court. The payee under the order or the person entitled to receive the transfer payment is responsible for serving the employer with the order and for its enforcement as set forth in chapter 26.18 RCW.

    ii. If immediate income withholding is not ordered, the court shall require that income withholding be delayed until a payment is past due. The support order shall contain a statement that withholding action may be taken against wages, earnings, assets, or benefits, and liens enforced against real and personal property under the child support statutes of this or any other state, without further notice to the person required to pay support, after a payment is past due.

c. If a mandatory income withholding order under chapter 26.18 RCW is issued under this subsection and the division of child support provides support enforcement services under RCW 26.23.045, the existing wage withholding assignment is prospectively superseded upon the division of child support's subsequent service of an income withholding order.
  1. The office of administrative hearings and the department of social and health services shall require that all support obligations established as administrative orders include a provision which orders and directs that the person required to pay support shall make all support payments to the Washington state support registry. All administrative orders shall also state that any privilege of the person required to pay support to obtain and maintain a license, as defined in RCW 74.20A.320, may not be renewed, or may be suspended if the person is not in compliance with a support order as provided in RCW 74.20A.320. All administrative orders shall also state that withholding action may be taken against wages, earnings, assets, or benefits, and liens enforced against real and personal property under the child support statutes of this or any other state without further notice to the person required to pay support at any time after entry of the order, unless:

    1. One of the parties demonstrates, and the presiding officer finds, that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding; or

    2. The parties reach a written agreement that is approved by the presiding officer that provides for an alternate agreement.

  2. If the support order does not include the provision ordering and directing that all payments be made to the Washington state support registry and a statement that withholding action may be taken against wages, earnings, assets, or benefits if a support payment is past due or at any time after the entry of the order, or that licensing privileges of the person required to pay support may not be renewed, or may be suspended, the division of child support may serve a notice on the person stating such requirements and authorizations. Service may be by personal service or any form of mail requiring a return receipt.

  3. Every support order shall state:

    1. The address where the support payment is to be sent;

    2. That withholding action may be taken against wages, earnings, assets, or benefits, and liens enforced against real and personal property under the child support statutes of this or any other state, without further notice to the person required to pay support at any time after entry of a support order, unless:

      1. One of the parties demonstrates, and the court finds, that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding; or

      2. The parties reach a written agreement that is approved by the court that provides for an alternate arrangement;

    3. The income of the parties, if known, or that their income is unknown and the income upon which the support award is based;

    4. The support award as a sum certain amount;

    5. The specific day or date on which the support payment is due;

    6. The names and ages of the dependent children;

    7. A provision requiring both the person required to pay support, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support who is a parent of the child or children covered by the order, to keep the Washington state support registry informed of whether he or she has access to health care coverage at reasonable cost and, if so, the health care coverage information;

    8. That either or both the person required to pay support, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support who is a parent of the child or children covered by the order, shall be obligated to provide medical support for a child or children covered by the order through health care coverage if:

      1. The person obligated to provide medical support provides accessible coverage for the child or children through private or public health care coverage; or

      2. Coverage that can be extended to cover the child or children is or becomes available to the person obligated to provide medical support through employment or is union-related; or

      3. In the absence of such coverage, through an additional sum certain amount, as that obligated person's monthly payment toward the premium as provided under RCW 26.09.105;

      4. That a person obligated to provide medical support who is providing health care coverage must notify both the division of child support and the other party to the order when coverage terminates;

    9. That if proof of health care coverage or proof that the coverage is unavailable is not provided within 20 days, the person seeking enforcement or the department may seek direct enforcement of the coverage through the employer or union of the person required to provide medical support without further notice to the person as provided under chapter 26.18 RCW;

    10. The reasons for not ordering health care coverage if the order fails to require such coverage;

    11. That any privilege of the person required to pay support to obtain and maintain a license, as defined in RCW 74.20A.320, may not be renewed, or may be suspended if the person is not in compliance with a support order as provided in RCW 74.20A.320;

    12. That each party to the support order must:

      1. Promptly file with the court and update as necessary the confidential information form required by subsection (7) of this section; and

      2. Provide the state case registry and update as necessary the information required by subsection (7) of this section; and

    13. That parties to administrative support orders shall provide to the state case registry and update as necessary their residential addresses and the address of the employer of the person required to pay support. The division of child support may adopt rules that govern the collection of parties' current residence and mailing addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, the names of the children, social security numbers of the children, dates of birth of the children, driver's license numbers, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the parties' employers to enforce an administrative support order. The division of child support shall not release this information if the division of child support determines that there is reason to believe that release of the information may result in physical or emotional harm to the party or to the child, or a restraining order or protective order is in effect to protect one party from the other party.

  4. After the person required to pay support has been ordered or notified to make payments to the Washington state support registry under this section, that person shall be fully responsible for making all payments to the Washington state support registry and shall be subject to payroll deduction or other income‑withholding action. The person required to pay support shall not be entitled to credit against a support obligation for any payments made to a person or agency other than to the Washington state support registry except as provided under RCW 74.20.101. A civil action may be brought by the person required to pay support to recover payments made to persons or agencies who have received and retained support moneys paid contrary to the provisions of this section.

  5. All petitioners and parties to all court actions under chapters 26.09, 26.12, 26.18, 26.21A, 26.23, 26.26A, 26.26B, and 26.27 RCW and minor guardianships under chapter 11.130 RCW shall complete to the best of their knowledge a verified and signed confidential information form or equivalent that provides the parties' current residence and mailing addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the parties' employers, to ensure that the parties' information is added to the judicial information system's person database. The clerk of the court shall not accept petitions, except in parentage actions initiated by the state, orders of child support, decrees of dissolution, or parentage orders for filing in such actions unless accompanied by the confidential information form or equivalent, or unless the confidential information form or equivalent is already on file with the court clerk. In lieu of or in addition to requiring the parties to complete a separate confidential information form, the clerk may collect the information in electronic form. The clerk of the court shall transmit the confidential information form or its data to the division of child support with a copy of the order of child support or parentage order, and may provide copies of the confidential information form or its data and any related findings, decrees, parenting plans, orders, or other documents to the state administrative agency that administers Title IV‑A, IV‑D, IV‑E, or XIX of the federal social security act. In state initiated parentage actions, the parties adjudicated the parents of the child or children shall complete the confidential information form or equivalent or the state's attorney of record may complete that form to the best of the attorney's knowledge.

  6. The department has rule-making authority to enact rules consistent with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 652(f) and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 666(a)(19) as amended by section 7307 of the deficit reduction act of 2005. Additionally, the department has rule-making authority to implement regulations required under 45 C.F.R. Parts 302, 303, 304, 305, and 308.

Section 11

  1. The secretary may, if there is no order that establishes a person's support obligation or specifically relieves the person required to pay support of a support obligation or pursuant to an establishment of parentage under chapter 26.26A or 26.26B RCW, serve on the person or persons required to pay support and the person entitled to receive support a notice and finding of financial responsibility requiring those persons to appear and show cause in an adjudicative proceeding why the finding of responsibility and/or the amount thereof is incorrect, should not be finally ordered, but should be rescinded or modified. This notice and finding shall relate to the support debt accrued and/or accruing under this chapter and/or RCW 26.16.205, including periodic payments to be made in the future. The hearing shall be held pursuant to this section, chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the rules of the department. A person who has physical custody of a child has the same rights under this section as a parent with whom the child resides.

  2. The notice and finding of financial responsibility shall be served in the same manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action or may be served on the person required to pay support by certified mail, return receipt requested. The receipt shall be prima facie evidence of service. The notice shall be served upon the person required to pay support within 60 days from the date the state assumes responsibility for the support of the dependent child or children on whose behalf support is sought. If the notice is not served within 60 days from such date, the department shall lose the right to reimbursement of payments made after the 60-day period and before the date of notification: PROVIDED, That if the department exercises reasonable efforts to locate the person required to pay support and is unable to do so the entire 60-day period is tolled until such time as the person can be located. The notice may be served upon the person entitled to receive support who is the nonassistance applicant or public assistance recipient by first‑class mail to the last known address. If the person entitled to receive support is not the nonassistance applicant or public assistance recipient, service shall be in the same manner as for the person required to pay support.

  3. The notice and finding of financial responsibility shall set forth the amount the department has determined the person required to pay support owes, the support debt accrued and/or accruing, and periodic payments to be made in the future. The notice and finding shall also include:

    1. A statement of the name of the person entitled to receive support and the name of the child or children for whom support is sought;

    2. A statement of the amount of periodic future support payments as to which financial responsibility is alleged;

    3. A statement that the person required to pay support or the person entitled to receive support may object to all or any part of the notice and finding, and file an application for an adjudicative proceeding to show cause why the terms set forth in the notice should not be ordered;

    4. A statement that, if neither the person required to pay support nor the person entitled to receive support files in a timely fashion an application for an adjudicative proceeding, the support debt and payments stated in the notice and finding, including periodic support payments in the future, shall be assessed and determined and ordered by the department and that this debt and amounts due under the notice shall be subject to collection action;

    5. A statement that the property of the person required to pay support, without further advance notice or hearing, will be subject to lien and foreclosure, distraint, seizure and sale, order to withhold and deliver, notice of payroll deduction or other collection action to satisfy the debt and enforce the support obligation established under the notice;

    6. A statement that the person required to pay support, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support who is a parent of the child or children covered by the order, are responsible for either:

      1. Providing health care coverage for the child if accessible coverage that can cover the child:

(A) Is available through health insurance or public health care coverage; or

(B) Is or becomes available to the obligated person through that person's employment or union; or

    ii. Paying a monthly payment toward the premium if no such coverage is available, as provided under RCW 26.09.105;

g. A statement that the support obligation under the order may be abated to ten dollars per month per order as provided in RCW 26.09.320 if the person required to pay support is confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility for at least six months, or is serving a sentence greater than six months in a jail, prison, or correctional facility; and

h. A statement that the support obligation under the order may be abated to $50 per month per order as provided in section 5 of this act if the person required to pay support is undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.
  1. A person required to pay support or a person entitled to receive support who objects to the notice and finding of financial responsibility may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding within 20 days of the date of service of the notice or thereafter as provided under this subsection.

    1. If the person required to pay support or the person entitled to receive support files the application within 20 days, the office of administrative hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding to hear the party's or parties' objection and determine the support obligation for the entire period covered by the notice and finding of financial responsibility. The filing of the application stays collection action pending the entry of a final administrative order;

    2. If both the person required to pay support and the person entitled to receive support fail to file an application within 20 days, the notice and finding shall become a final administrative order. The amounts for current and future support and the support debt stated in the notice are final and subject to collection, except as provided under (c) and (d) of this subsection;

    3. If the person required to pay support or the person entitled to receive support files the application more than 20 days after, but within one year of the date of service, the office of administrative hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding to hear the party's or parties' objection and determine the support obligation for the entire period covered by the notice and finding of financial responsibility. The filing of the application does not stay further collection action, pending the entry of a final administrative order, and does not affect any prior collection action;

    4. If the person required to pay support or the person entitled to receive support files the application more than one year after the date of service, the office of administrative hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding at which the party who requested the late hearing must show good cause for failure to file a timely application. The filing of the application does not stay future collection action and does not affect prior collection action:

      1. If the presiding officer finds that good cause exists, the presiding officer shall proceed to hear the party's objection to the notice and determine the support obligation;

      2. If the presiding officer finds that good cause does not exist, the presiding officer shall treat the application as a petition for prospective modification of the amount for current and future support established under the notice and finding. In the modification proceeding, the presiding officer shall set current and future support under chapter 26.19 RCW. The petitioning party need show neither good cause nor a substantial change of circumstances to justify modification of current and future support;

    5. If the support obligation was based upon imputed median net income, the grant standard, or the family need standard, the division of child support may file an application for adjudicative proceeding more than 20 days after the date of service of the notice. The office of administrative hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding and provide notice of the hearing to the person required to pay support and the person entitled to receive support. The presiding officer shall determine the support obligation for the entire period covered by the notice, based upon credible evidence presented by the division of child support, the person required to pay support, or the person entitled to receive support, or may determine that the support obligation set forth in the notice is correct. The division of child support demonstrates good cause by showing that the support obligation was based upon imputed median net income, the grant standard, or the family need standard. The filing of the application by the division of child support does not stay further collection action, pending the entry of a final administrative order, and does not affect any prior collection action;

    6. The department shall retain and/or shall not refund support money collected more than 20 days after the date of service of the notice. Money withheld as the result of collection action shall be delivered to the department. The department shall distribute such money, as provided in published rules.

  2. If an application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed, the presiding or reviewing officer shall determine the past liability and responsibility, if any, of the person required to pay support and shall also determine the amount of periodic payments to be made in the future, which amount is not limited by the amount of any public assistance payment made to or for the benefit of the child. If deviating from the child support schedule in making these determinations, the presiding or reviewing officer shall apply the standards contained in the child support schedule and enter written findings of fact supporting the deviation.

  3. If either the person required to pay support or the person entitled to receive support fails to attend or participate in the hearing or other stage of an adjudicative proceeding, upon a showing of valid service, the presiding officer shall enter an order of default against each party who did not appear and may enter an administrative order declaring the support debt and payment provisions stated in the notice and finding of financial responsibility to be assessed and determined and subject to collection action. The parties who appear may enter an agreed settlement or consent order, which may be different than the terms of the department's notice. Any party who appears may choose to proceed to the hearing, after the conclusion of which the presiding officer or reviewing officer may enter an order that is different than the terms stated in the notice, if the obligation is supported by credible evidence presented by any party at the hearing.

  4. The final administrative order establishing liability and/or future periodic support payments shall be superseded upon entry of a superior court order for support to the extent the superior court order is inconsistent with the administrative order.

  5. Debts determined pursuant to this section, accrued and not paid, are subject to collection action under this chapter without further necessity of action by a presiding or reviewing officer.

  6. The department has rule-making authority to enact rules consistent with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 652(f) and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 666(a)(19) as amended by section 7307 of the deficit reduction act of 2005. Additionally, the department has rule-making authority to implement regulations required under 45 C.F.R. Parts 302, 303, 304, 305, and 308.

Section 12

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    1. If an acknowledged parent has signed an acknowledgment of parentage that has been filed with the state registrar of vital statistics:

      1. The division of child support may serve a notice and finding of financial responsibility under RCW 74.20A.055 based on the acknowledgment. The division of child support shall attach a copy of the acknowledgment or certification of the birth record information advising of the existence of a filed acknowledgment of parentage to the notice;

      2. The notice shall include a statement that the acknowledged parent or any other signatory may commence a proceeding in court to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial of parentage under RCW 26.26A.235 and 26.26A.240;

      3. A statement that the person required to pay support, and the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support who is a parent of the child or children covered by the order, are responsible for providing health care coverage for the child if accessible coverage that can be extended to cover the child is or becomes available to the obligated person through employment or is union-related as provided under RCW 26.09.105;

      4. The party commencing the action to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial must serve notice on the division of child support and the office of the prosecuting attorney in the county in which the proceeding is commenced. Commencement of a proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial stays the establishment of the notice and finding of financial responsibility, if the notice has not yet become a final order;

    2. A statement that the support obligation under the order may be abated to $10 per month per order as provided in RCW 26.09.320 if the person required to pay support is confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility for at least six months, or is serving a sentence greater than six months in a jail, prison, or correctional facility; and

    1. A statement that the support obligation under the order may be abated to $50 per month per order as provided in section 5 of this act if the person required to pay support is undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.
    1. If neither party to the notice files an application for an adjudicative proceeding or the signatories to the acknowledgment or denial do not commence a proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment of parentage, the amount of support stated in the notice and finding of financial responsibility becomes final, subject only to a subsequent determination under RCW 26.26A.400 through 26.26A.515 that the parent-child relationship does not exist. The division of child support does not refund nor return any amounts collected under a notice that becomes final under this section or RCW 74.20A.055, even if a court later determines that the acknowledgment is void.

    2. An acknowledged parent or other party to the notice who objects to the amount of support requested in the notice may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding up to 20 days after the date the notice was served. An application for an adjudicative proceeding may be filed within one year of service of the notice and finding of parental responsibility without the necessity for a showing of good cause or upon a showing of good cause thereafter. An adjudicative proceeding under this section shall be pursuant to RCW 74.20A.055. The only issues shall be the amount of the accrued debt and the amount of the current and future support obligation.

      1. If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed within 20 days of service of the notice, collection action shall be stayed pending a final decision by the department.

      2. If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is not filed within 20 days of the service of the notice, any amounts collected under the notice shall be neither refunded nor returned if the person required to pay support under the notice is later found not to be required to pay support.

    3. If neither the acknowledged parent nor the person entitled to receive support requests an adjudicative proceeding, or if no timely action is brought to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial after service of the notice, the notice of financial responsibility becomes final for all intents and purposes and may be overturned only by a subsequent superior court order entered under RCW 26.26A.400 through 26.26A.515.

  2. Acknowledgments of parentage are subject to requirements of chapters 26.26A, 26.26B, and 70.58A RCW.

  3. The department and the department of health may adopt rules to implement the requirements under this section.

  4. The department has rule-making authority to enact rules consistent with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 652(f) and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 666(a)(19) as amended by section 7307 of the deficit reduction act of 2005. Additionally, the department has rule-making authority to implement regulations required under 45 C.F.R. Parts 302, 303, 304, 305, and 308.

Section 13

  1. The department, the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support, or the person required to pay support may petition for a prospective modification of a final administrative order if:

    1. The administrative order has not been superseded by a superior court order; and

    2. There has been a substantial change of circumstances, except as provided under RCW 74.20A.055(4)(d) or subsection (2) of this section.

  2. The department, the person entitled to receive support, the payee under the order, or : (a) The person required to pay support may petition for a prospective modification of a final administrative order if the person required to pay support is currently confined in a jail, prison, or correctional facility for at least six months or is serving a sentence greater than six months in a jail, prison, or correctional facility, and the support order does not contain language regarding abatement due to incarceration; or (b) the person required to pay support is currently undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment and the support order does not contain language regarding abatement due to incapacitation.

     i. The petition may be filed at any time after the administrative support order became a final order, as long as the person required to pay support is currently incarcerated or undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment.
    
     ii. As part of the petition for modification, the petitioner may also request that the support obligation be abated to $10 per month per order due to incarceration, as provided in RCW 26.09.320, or abated to $50 per month per order due to incapacitation, as provided in section 5 of this act.
    
  3. An order of child support may be modified at any time without a showing of substantially changed circumstances if incarceration of the person required to pay support is the basis for the inconsistency between the existing child support order amount and the amount of support determined as a result of a review.

  4. An order of child support may be modified one year or more after it has been entered without showing a substantial change of circumstances:

    1. If the order in practice works a severe economic hardship on either party or the child; or

    2. If a child is a full-time student and reasonably expected to complete secondary school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training before the child becomes 19 years of age upon a finding that there is a need to extend support beyond the eighteenth birthday.

  5. An order may be modified without showing a substantial change of circumstances if the requested modification is to:

    1. Require medical support under RCW 26.09.105 for a child covered by the order;

    2. Modify an existing order for health care coverage; or

    3. Modify an existing order when the person required to pay support has been released from incarceration, as provided in RCW 26.09.320(3)(d), or when the person has completed court-ordered behavioral health treatment, as provided in section 5(5) of this act.

  6. Support orders may be adjusted once every 24 months based upon changes in the income of the parties to the order without a showing of substantially changed circumstances. This provision does not mean that the income of a person entitled to receive support who is not a parent of the child or children covered by the order must be disclosed or be included in the calculations under chapter 26.19 RCW when determining the support obligation.

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    1. All administrative orders entered on, before, or after September 1, 1991, may be modified based upon changes in the child support schedule established in chapter 26.19 RCW without a substantial change of circumstances. The petition may be filed based on changes in the child support schedule after 12 months has expired from the entry of the administrative order or the most recent modification order setting child support, whichever is later. However, if a party is granted relief under this provision, 24 months must pass before another petition for modification may be filed pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.

    2. If, pursuant to subsection (6) of this section or (a) of this subsection, the order modifies a child support obligation by more than 30 percent and the change would cause significant hardship, the change may be implemented in two equal increments, one at the time of the entry of the order and the second six months from the entry of the order. Twenty-four months must pass following the second change before a petition for modification under subsection (6) of this section may be filed.

  8. An increase in the wage or salary of the person entitled to receive the support transfer payments is not a substantial change in circumstances for purposes of modification under subsection (1)(b) of this section. The voluntary unemployment or voluntary underemployment of the person required to pay support, by itself, is not a substantial change of circumstances. The income of the person entitled to receive support is only disclosed or considered if that person is a parent of the child or children covered by the order.

  9. The department shall file the petition and a supporting affidavit with the office of administrative hearings when the department petitions for modification.

  10. The person required to pay support or the payee under the order or the person entitled to receive support shall follow the procedures in this chapter for filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding to petition for modification.

  11. Upon the filing of a proper petition or application, the office of administrative hearings shall issue an order directing each party to appear and show cause why the order should not be modified.

  12. If the presiding or reviewing officer finds a modification is appropriate, the officer shall modify the order and set current and future support under chapter 26.19 RCW.

Section 14

  1. The administrative office of the courts shall revise the child support worksheets and instructions to clarify language regarding how parties should round up income amounts consistent with the recommendations of the 2023 child support schedule work group.

  2. This section expires August 1, 2025.

Section 15

ECONOMIC TABLE

MONTHLY BASIC SUPPORT OBLIGATION

PER CHILD

For income less than $1,600 the obligation is based upon the resources and living expenses of each household. Minimum support may not be less than $50 per child per month except when allowed by RCW 26.19.065(2).

1600

346

267

1700

368

284

1800

390

301

1900

412

317

2000

433

334

2100

455

350

2200

477

367

2300

499

384

2400

521

400

2500

543

417

2600

565

433

2700

587

450

2800

609

467

2900

630

483

3000

652

500

3100

674

516

3200

696

533

3300

718

550

3400

740

566

3500

762

583

3600

784

599

3700

803

614

3800

816

624

3900

830

634

4000

843

643

4100

857

653

4200

867

660

4300

877

668

4400

887

675

4500

896

682

4600

906

689

4700

916

697

4800

927

705

4900

939

714

5000

951

723

5100

963

732

5200

975

741

5300

987

750

5400

999

759

5500

1011

768

5600

1023

777

5700

1030

782

5800

1036

786

5900

1042

791

6000

1048

795

6100

1054

800

6200

1061

804

6300

1067

809

6400

1073

813

6500

1081

819

6600

1096

830

6700

1111

842

6800

1126

853

6900

1141

864

7000

1156

875

7100

1170

886

7200

1185

898

7300

1200

909

7400

1212

918

7500

1222

925

7600

1231

932

7700

1241

939

7800

1251

946

7900

1261

953

8000

1270

960

8100

1280

968

8200

1290

975

8300

1299

981

8400

1308

987

8500

1316

994

8600

1325

1000

8700

1334

1007

8800

1343

1013

8900

1352

1019

9000

1361

1026

9100

1370

1032

9200

1379

1040

9300

1387

1047

9400

1396

1055

9500

1405

1062

9600

1414

1069

9700

1423

1077

9800

1432

1084

9900

1441

1092

10000

1451

1099

10100

1462

1107

10200

1473

1114

10300

1484

1122

10400

1495

1129

10500

1507

1136

10600

1518

1144

10700

1529

1151

10800

1539

1159

10900

1542

1161

11000

1545

1164

11100

1548

1166

11200

1551

1169

11300

1554

1172

11400

1556

1174

11500

1559

1177

11600

1562

1179

11700

1565

1182

11800

1568

1184

11900

1571

1187

12000

1573

1190

12100

1584

2397

12200

1594

2415

12300

1605

2432

12400

1616

2449

12500

1626

2467

12600

1637

2484

12700

1647

2501

12800

1657

2518

12900

1668

2535

13000

1678

2552

13100

1688

2569

13200

1699

2586

13300

1709

2603

13400

1719

2620

13500

1729

2637

13600

1739

2654

13700

1749

2671

13800

1759

2687

13900

1769

2704

14000

1779

2721

14100

1789

2737

14200

1799

2754

14300

1809

2770

14400

1818

2787

14500

1828

2803

14600

1838

2820

14700

1848

2836

14800

1857

2852

14900

1867

2869

15000

1876

2885

15100

1886

2901

15200

1895

2917

15300

1905

2934

15400

1914

2950

15500

1923

2966

15600

1933

2982

15700

1942

2998

15800

1951

3014

15900

1960

3029

16000

1969

3045

16100

1978

3061

16200

1987

3077

16300

1996

3093

16400

2005

3108

16500

2014

3124

16600

2023

3140

16700

2032

3155

16800

2041

3171

16900

2050

3186

17000

2058

3202

17100

2067

3217

17200

2076

3232

17300

2084

3248

17400

2093

3263

17500

2101

3278

17600

2110

3294

17700

2118

3309

17800

2127

3324

17900

2135

3339

18000

2143

3354

18100

2152

3369

18200

2160

3384

18300

2168

3399

18400

2176

3414

18500

2185

3429

18600

2193

3443

18700

2201

3458

18800

2209

3473

18900

2217

3488

19000

2225

3502

19100

2232

3517

19200

2240

3532

19300

2248

3546

19400

2256

3561

19500

2264

3575

19600

2271

3589

19700

2279

3604

19800

2287

3618

19900

2294

3632

20000

2302

3647

20100

2310

3661

20200

2318

3675

20300

2326

3689

20400

2334

3703

20500

2342

3717

20600

2350

3731

20700

2358

3745

20800

2366

3759

20900

2374

3773

21000

2382

3787

21100

2389

3801

21200

2396

3815

21300

2403

3828

21400

2410

3842

21500

2417

3856

21600

2424

3869

21700

2431

3883

21800

2438

3896

21900

2445

3910

22000

2452

3923

22100

2459

3937

22200

2466

3950

22300

2473

3963

22400

2480

3977

22500

2487

3990

22600

2494

4003

22700

2501

4016

22800

2508

4030

22900

2515

4043

23000

2522

4056

23100

2529

4069

23200

2536

4082

23300

2543

4095

23400

2550

4107

23500

2557

4120

23600

2564

4133

23700

2571

4146

23800

2578

4159

23900

2585

4171

24000

2592

4184

24100

2599

4197

24200

2606

4209

24300

2613

4222

24400

2620

4234

24500

2627

4247

24600

2634

4259

24700

2641

4271

24800

2648

4284

24900

2655

4296

25000

2662

4308

25100

2669

4321

25200

2676

4333

25300

2683

4345

25400

2690

4357

25500

2696

4369

25600

2702

4381

25700

2708

4393

25800

2714

4405

25900

2720

4417

26000

2726

4429

26100

2732

4440

26200

2738

4452

26300

2744

4464

26400

2750

4476

26500

2756

4487

26600

2762

4499

26700

2768

4511

26800

2774

4522

26900

2780

4534

27000

2786

4545

27100

2792

4556

27200

2798

4568

27300

2804

4579

27400

2810

4590

27500

2816

4602

27600

2822

4613

27700

2828

4624

27800

2834

4635

27900

2840

4646

28000

2846

4657

28100

2852

4668

28200

2858

4679

28300

2864

4690

28400

2870

4701

28500

2876

4712

28600

2882

4723

28700

2888

4734

28800

2894

4744

28900

2900

4755

29000

2906

4766

29100

2912

4776

29200

2918

4787

29300

2924

4797

29400

2930

4808

29500

2936

4818

29600

2942

4829

29700

2948

4839

29800

2954

4849

29900

2960

4860

30000

2966

4870

30100

2972

4880

30200

2978

4890

30300

2984

4901

30400

2990

4911

30500

2996

4921

30600

3002

4931

30700

3008

4941

30800

3014

4951

30900

3020

4960

31000

3026

4970

31100

3032

4980

31200

3038

4990

31300

3044

5000

31400

3050

5009

31500

3056

5019

31600

3062

5029

31700

3068

5038

31800

3074

5048

31900

3080

5057

32000

3086

5067

32100

3092

5076

32200

3098

5085

32300

3104

5095

32400

3110

5104

32500

3116

5113

32600

3122

5123

32700

3128

5132

32800

3134

5141

32900

3140

5150

33000

3146

5159

33100

3152

5168

33200

3158

5177

33300

3164

5186

33400

3170

5195

33500

3176

5204

33600

3182

5212

33700

3188

5221

33800

3194

5230

33900

3200

5239

34000

3206

5247

34100

3212

5256

34200

3218

5265

34300

3224

5273

34400

3230

5282

34500

3236

5290

34600

3242

5298

34700

3248

5307

34800

3253

5315

34900

3258

5323

35000

3263

5332

35100

3268

5340

35200

3273

5348

35300

3278

5356

35400

3283

5364

35500

3288

5372

35600

3293

5380

35700

3298

5388

35800

3303

5396

35900

3308

5404

36000

3313

5412

36100

3318

5420

36200

3323

5428

36300

3328

5435

36400

3333

5443

36500

3338

5451

36600

3343

5458

36700

3348

5466

36800

3353

5473

36900

3358

5481

37000

3363

5488

37100

3368

5496

37200

3373

5503

37300

3378

5510

37400

3383

5518

37500

3388

5525

37600

3393

5532

37700

3398

5539

37800

3403

5547

37900

3408

5554

38000

3413

5561

38100

3418

5568

38200

3423

5575

38300

3428

5582

38400

3433

5588

38500

3438

5595

38600

3443

5602

38700

3448

5609

38800

3453

5616

38900

3458

5622

39000

3463

5629

39100

3468

5636

39200

3473

5642

39300

3478

5649

39400

3483

5655

39500

3488

5662

39600

3493

5668

39700

3498

5674

39800

3503

5681

39900

3508

5687

40000

3513

5693

40100

3518

5700

40200

3523

5706

40300

3528

5712

40400

3533

5718

40500

3538

5724

40600

3543

5730

40700

3548

5736

40800

3553

5742

40900

3558

5748

41000

3563

5754

41100

3568

5759

41200

3573

5765

41300

3578

5771

41400

3583

5777

41500

3588

5782

41600

3593

5788

41700

3598

5794

41800

3603

5799

41900

3607

5805

42000

3611

5810

42100

3615

5815

42200

3619

5821

42300

3623

5826

42400

3627

5831

42500

3631

5837

42600

3635

5842

42700

3639

5847

42800

3643

5852

42900

3647

5857

43000

3651

5862

43100

3655

5867

43200

3659

5872

43300

3663

5877

43400

3667

5882

43500

3671

5887

43600

3675

5892

43700

3679

5897

43800

3683

5901

43900

3687

5906

44000

3691

5911

44100

3695

5915

44200

3699

5920

44300

3703

5924

44400

3707

5929

44500

3711

5933

44600

3715

5938

44700

3719

5942

44800

3723

5946

44900

3727

5951

45000

3731

5955

45100

3735

5959

45200

3739

5963

45300

3743

5968

45400

3747

5972

45500

3751

5976

45600

3755

5980

45700

3759

5984

45800

3763

5988

45900

3767

5991

46000

3771

5995

46100

3775

5999

46200

3779

6003

46300

3783

6007

46400

3787

6010

46500

3791

6014

46600

3795

6018

46700

3799

6021

46800

3803

6025

46900

3807

6028

47000

3811

6032

47100

3815

6035

47200

3819

6038

47300

3823

6042

47400

3827

6045

47500

3831

6048

47600

3835

6052

47700

3839

6055

47800

3843

6058

47900

3847

6061

48000

3851

6064

48100

3855

6067

48200

3859

6070

48300

3863

6073

48400

3867

6076

48500

3871

6079

48600

3874

6081

48700

3877

6084

48800

3880

6087

48900

3883

6090

49000

3886

6092

49100

3889

6095

49200

3892

6098

49300

3895

6100

49400

3898

6103

49500

3901

6105

49600

3904

6107

49700

3907

6110

49800

3910

6112

49900

3913

6114

50000

3916

6117

For income less than $1,600 the obligation is based upon the resources and living expenses of each household. Minimum support may not be less than $50 per child per month except when allowed by RCW 26.19.065(2).

1600

218

182

161

1700

231

194

171

1800

245

205

180

1900

258

216

190

2000

271

227

200

2100

285

239

210

2200

298

250

220

2300

311

261

230

2400

325

272

239

2500

338

283

249

2600

351

294

259

2700

365

305

269

2800

378

317

279

2900

391

328

288

3000

405

339

298

3100

418

350

308

3200

431

361

318

3300

444

372

328

3400

458

384

337

3500

471

395

347

3600

484

406

357

3700

496

416

366

3800

503

422

371

3900

511

428

377

4000

518

434

382

4100

526

440

388

4200

531

445

392

4300

537

450

396

4400

543

455

400

4500

548

459

404

4600

554

464

408

4700

559

469

412

4800

566

474

417

4900

573

480

422

5000

580

486

428

5100

587

492

433

5200

594

498

438

5300

602

504

443

5400

609

510

449

5500

616

516

454

5600

623

522

459

5700

627

525

462

5800

630

528

465

5900

634

531

467

6000

637

534

470

6100

641

537

472

6200

644

540

475

6300

648

543

477

6400

651

545

480

6500

656

549

483

6600

665

557

490

6700

674

564

497

6800

683

572

503

6900

692

579

510

7000

701

587

516

7100

710

594

523

7200

719

602

530

7300

727

609

536

7400

734

615

541

7500

740

620

545

7600

745

624

549

7700

751

629

554

7800

756

634

558

7900

762

638

562

8000

767

643

566

8100

773

647

570

8200

778

652

574

8300

783

656

577

8400

788

660

581

8500

793

664

584

8600

797

668

588

8700

802

672

591

8800

807

676

595

8900

812

680

599

9000

817

684

602

9100

822

689

606

9200

828

694

611

9300

835

699

616

9400

841

705

620

9500

848

710

625

9600

854

716

630

9700

861

721

635

9800

867

727

639

9900

874

732

644

10000

879

737

648

10100

885

741

652

10200

890

745

656

10300

895

750

660

10400

900

754

664

10500

906

759

668

10600

911

763

672

10700

916

767

675

10800

921

772

679

10900

924

774

681

11000

926

776

683

11100

928

778

684

11200

931

780

686

11300

933

782

688

11400

936

784

690

11500

938

786

692

11600

940

788

693

11700

943

790

695

11800

945

792

697

11900

948

794

699

12000

950

796

700

12100

2871

3208

3527

12200

2893

3232

3553

12300

2914

3256

3580

12400

2935

3280

3607

12500

2956

3304

3633

12600

2977

3328

3660

12700

2998

3352

3686

12800

3020

3376

3713

12900

3041

3400

3739

13000

3062

3423

3766

13100

3082

3447

3792

13200

3103

3471

3818

13300

3124

3494

3845

13400

3145

3518

3871

13500

3166

3542

3897

13600

3186

3565

3923

13700

3207

3588

3949

13800

3228

3612

3975

13900

3248

3635

4001

14000

3269

3659

4027

14100

3290

3682

4053

14200

3310

3705

4079

14300

3330

3728

4105

14400

3351

3752

4131

14500

3371

3775

4157

14600

3392

3798

4182

14700

3412

3821

4208

14800

3432

3844

4234

14900

3452

3867

4259

15000

3473

3890

4285

15100

3493

3913

4311

15200

3513

3936

4336

15300

3533

3959

4362

15400

3553

3981

4387

15500

3573

4004

4412

15600

3593

4027

4438

15700

3613

4050

4463

15800

3632

4072

4488

15900

3652

4095

4513

16000

3672

4117

4539

16100

3692

4140

4564

16200

3711

4162

4589

16300

3731

4185

4614

16400

3751

4207

4639

16500

3770

4230

4664

16600

3790

4252

4689

16700

3809

4274

4714

16800

3829

4296

4739

16900

3848

4319

4764

17000

3867

4341

4788

17100

3887

4363

4813

17200

3906

4385

4838

17300

3925

4407

4862

17400

3945

4429

4887

17500

3964

4451

4912

17600

3983

4473

4936

17700

4002

4495

4961

17800

4021

4516

4985

17900

4040

4538

5010

18000

4059

4560

5034

18100

4078

4582

5058

18200

4097

4603

5083

18300

4116

4625

5107

18400

4134

4647

5131

18500

4153

4668

5155

18600

4172

4690

5179

18700

4191

4711

5204

18800

4209

4733

5228

18900

4228

4754

5252

19000

4246

4775

5276

19100

4265

4797

5300

19200

4284

4818

5324

19300

4302

4839

5347

19400

4320

4860

5371

19500

4339

4882

5395

19600

4357

4903

5419

19700

4375

4924

5442

19800

4394

4945

5466

19900

4412

4966

5490

20000

4430

4987

5513

20100

4448

5008

5537

20200

4466

5028

5560

20300

4484

5049

5584

20400

4502

5070

5607

20500

4520

5091

5631

20600

4538

5112

5654

20700

4556

5132

5677

20800

4574

5153

5701

20900

4592

5173

5724

21000

4609

5194

5747

21100

4627

5215

5770

21200

4645

5235

5793

21300

4663

5255

5816

21400

4680

5276

5839

21500

4698

5296

5862

21600

4715

5316

5885

21700

4733

5337

5908

21800

4750

5357

5931

21900

4768

5377

5954

22000

4785

5397

5977

22100

4802

5417

5999

22200

4820

5438

6022

22300

4837

5458

6045

22400

4854

5478

6067

22500

4871

5498

6090

22600

4888

5517

6113

22700

4905

5537

6135

22800

4923

5557

6158

22900

4940

5577

6180

23000

4956

5597

6202

23100

4973

5616

6225

23200

4990

5636

6247

23300

5007

5656

6269

23400

5024

5675

6291

23500

5041

5695

6314

23600

5057

5714

6336

23700

5074

5734

6358

23800

5091

5753

6380

23900

5107

5773

6402

24000

5124

5792

6424

24100

5141

5811

6446

24200

5157

5831

6468

24300

5173

5850

6490

24400

5190

5869

6512

24500

5206

5888

6533

24600

5223

5907

6555

24700

5239

5926

6577

24800

5255

5945

6598

24900

5271

5964

6620

25000

5287

5983

6642

25100

5304

6002

6663

25200

5320

6021

6685

25300

5336

6040

6706

25400

5352

6059

6728

25500

5368

6078

6749

25600

5384

6096

6770

25700

5400

6115

6792

25800

5415

6134

6813

25900

5431

6152

6834

26000

5447

6171

6855

26100

5463

6189

6876

26200

5478

6208

6898

26300

5494

6226

6919

26400

5510

6244

6940

26500

5525

6263

6961

26600

5541

6281

6982

26700

5556

6299

7003

26800

5572

6318

7023

26900

5587

6336

7044

27000

5602

6354

7065

27100

5618

6372

7086

27200

5633

6390

7106

27300

5648

6408

7127

27400

5664

6426

7148

27500

5679

6444

7168

27600

5694

6462

7189

27700

5709

6480

7209

27800

5724

6498

7230

27900

5739

6516

7250

28000

5754

6533

7271

28100

5769

6551

7291

28200

5784

6569

7311

28300

5799

6586

7332

28400

5813

6604

7352

28500

5828

6622

7372

28600

5843

6639

7392

28700

5858

6656

7412

28800

5872

6674

7432

28900

5887

6691

7452

29000

5901

6709

7472

29100

5916

6726

7492

29200

5931

6743

7512

29300

5945

6760

7532

29400

5959

6778

7552

29500

5974

6795

7572

29600

5988

6812

7591

29700

6002

6829

7611

29800

6017

6846

7631

29900

6031

6863

7650

30000

6045

6880

7670

30100

6059

6897

7690

30200

6073

6914

7709

30300

6087

6931

7729

30400

6101

6947

7748

30500

6115

6964

7767

30600

6129

6981

7787

30700

6143

6998

7806

30800

6157

7014

7825

30900

6171

7031

7844

31000

6184

7047

7864

31100

6198

7064

7883

31200

6212

7080

7902

31300

6226

7097

7921

31400

6239

7113

7940

31500

6253

7130

7959

31600

6266

7146

7978

31700

6280

7162

7997

31800

6293

7178

8016

31900

6307

7195

8035

32000

6320

7211

8053

32100

6333

7227

8072

32200

6347

7243

8091

32300

6360

7259

8109

32400

6373

7275

8128

32500

6386

7291

8147

32600

6399

7307

8165

32700

6412

7323

8184

32800

6426

7338

8202

32900

6439

7354

8221

33000

6451

7370

8239

33100

6464

7386

8257

33200

6477

7401

8276

33300

6490

7417

8294

33400

6503

7433

8312

33500

6516

7448

8330

33600

6528

7464

8348

33700

6541

7479

8367

33800

6554

7495

8385

33900

6566

7510

8403

34000

6579

7525

8421

34100

6592

7541

8439

34200

6604

7556

8457

34300

6616

7571

8474

34400

6629

7586

8492

34500

6641

7602

8510

34600

6654

7617

8528

34700

6666

7632

8545

34800

6678

7647

8563

34900

6690

7662

8581

35000

6702

7677

8598

35100

6715

7692

8616

35200

6727

7706

8633

35300

6739

7721

8651

35400

6751

7736

8668

35500

6763

7751

8686

35600

6775

7766

8703

35700

6787

7780

8720

35800

6798

7795

8738

35900

6810

7809

8755

36000

6822

7824

8772

36100

6834

7839

8789

36200

6845

7853

8806

36300

6857

7867

8823

36400

6869

7882

8840

36500

6880

7896

8857

36600

6892

7910

8874

36700

6903

7925

8891

36800

6915

7939

8908

36900

6926

7953

8925

37000

6937

7967

8942

37100

6949

7981

8958

37200

6960

7996

8975

37300

6971

8010

8992

37400

6983

8024

9008

37500

6994

8038

9025

37600

7005

8051

9042

37700

7016

8065

9058

37800

7027

8079

9075

37900

7038

8093

9091

38000

7049

8107

9107

38100

7060

8120

9124

38200

7071

8134

9140

38300

7082

8148

9156

38400

7092

8161

9172

38500

7103

8175

9189

38600

7114

8188

9205

38700

7125

8202

9221

38800

7135

8215

9237

38900

7146

8229

9253

39000

7156

8242

9269

39100

7167

8255

9285

39200

7178

8269

9301

39300

7188

8282

9317

39400

7198

8295

9333

39500

7209

8308

9348

39600

7219

8321

9364

39700

7229

8334

9380

39800

7240

8347

9395

39900

7250

8360

9411

40000

7260

8373

9427

40100

7270

8386

9442

40200

7280

8399

9458

40300

7290

8412

9473

40400

7300

8425

9489

40500

7310

8438

9504

40600

7320

8450

9519

40700

7330

8463

9535

40800

7340

8476

9550

40900

7350

8488

9565

41000

7359

8501

9580

41100

7369

8513

9595

41200

7379

8526

9611

41300

7389

8538

9626

41400

7398

8550

9641

41500

7408

8563

9656

41600

7417

8575

9671

41700

7427

8587

9686

41800

7436

8600

9700

41900

7446

8612

9715

42000

7455

8624

9730

42100

7464

8636

9745

42200

7474

8648

9759

42300

7483

8660

9774

42400

7492

8672

9789

42500

7501

8684

9803

42600

7510

8696

9818

42700

7519

8708

9832

42800

7529

8720

9847

42900

7538

8732

9861

43000

7546

8743

9876

43100

7555

8755

9890

43200

7564

8767

9904

43300

7573

8778

9919

43400

7582

8790

9933

43500

7591

8802

9947

43600

7599

8813

9961

43700

7608

8824

9975

43800

7617

8836

9989

43900

7625

8847

10003

44000

7634

8859

10017

44100

7643

8870

10031

44200

7651

8881

10045

44300

7659

8892

10059

44400

7668

8904

10073

44500

7676

8915

10087

44600

7685

8926

10100

44700

7693

8937

10114

44800

7701

8948

10128

44900

7709

8959

10141

45000

7717

8970

10155

45100

7726

8981

10169

45200

7734

8992

10182

45300

7742

9003

10196

45400

7750

9013

10209

45500

7758

9024

10222

45600

7766

9035

10236

45700

7774

9046

10249

45800

7781

9056

10262

45900

7789

9067

10275

46000

7797

9077

10289

46100

7805

9088

10302

46200

7812

9098

10315

46300

7820

9109

10328

46400

7828

9119

10341

46500

7835

9130

10354

46600

7843

9140

10367

46700

7850

9150

10380

46800

7858

9160

10393

46900

7865

9171

10406

47000

7872

9181

10418

47100

7880

9191

10431

47200

7887

9201

10444

47300

7894

9211

10456

47400

7902

9221

10469

47500

7909

9231

10482

47600

7916

9241

10494

47700

7923

9251

10507

47800

7930

9260

10519

47900

7937

9270

10532

48000

7944

9280

10544

48100

7951

9290

10556

48200

7958

9299

10569

48300

7965

9309

10581

48400

7971

9319

10593

48500

7978

9328

10605

48600

7985

9338

10617

48700

7992

9347

10630

48800

7998

9357

10642

48900

8005

9366

10654

49000

8011

9375

10666

49100

8018

9385

10678

49200

8025

9394

10690

49300

8031

9403

10701

49400

8037

9412

10713

49500

8044

9422

10725

49600

8050

9431

10737

49700

8056

9440

10748

49800

8063

9449

10760

49900

8069

9458

10772

50000

8075

9467

10783

The economic table is presumptive for combined monthly net incomes up to and including $50,000. When combined monthly net income exceeds $50,000, the court may exceed the presumptive amount of support set for combined monthly net incomes of $50,000 upon written findings of fact.


Created by @tannewt. Contribute on GitHub.