Washington child support guidelines
Washington uses an income-shares guideline — the Washington State Child Support Schedule (WSCSS) in Chapter 26.19 RCW — built on both parents’ net incomes. This page explains the rules and links the official DSHS worksheet calculator; it doesn’t compute your amount.
How the Washington formula works
The WSCSS works in steps:
- Combine both parents’ net incomes — gross income minus the deductions the schedule allows (now including Paid Family & Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums);
- Find the basic obligation on the economic table for that combined income and the number and ages of the children (Washington splits younger and older children);
- Split it proportionally by each parent’s share of income;
- Add health-care and daycare costs.
Washington requires the worksheets to be filed in every case.
The 2026 overhaul (EHB 1014)
Washington’s schedule changed substantially on January 1, 2026 under Engrossed House Bill 1014: the economic table was expanded to schedule support for combined net incomes up to $50,000 a month, the self-support reserve rose to 180% of the federal poverty guideline (up from 125%), and PFML and WA Cares premiums became allowed deductions. Because those changes move real numbers, an out-of-date calculator will be wrong — use the current one.
Parenting time and how long support lasts
When the child spends more than 25% of the overnights (about 91+ nights a year) with the paying parent, the court may grant a residential-schedule deviation — a discretionary reduction, not an automatic credit. Support ends at 18, or at high-school graduation if the child is still enrolled at 18; a court can also order postsecondary support up to 23 (RCW 26.19.090), decided separately.
Use the official calculator
The DSHS Division of Child Support publishes the official WSCSS Worksheet Calculator (linked above). Use it for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The court reviews the worksheet and enters the final order.
For a real case
The schedule amount is presumed correct but can be adjusted under the statutory deviation factors. For advice on your situation, consult a Washington family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Washington is set by Washington’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official Washington calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Washington for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in Washington?
- Washington uses the Washington State Child Support Schedule (WSCSS), an income-shares model in Chapter 26.19 RCW. It combines both parents' net incomes, finds the basic obligation on the economic table for that income and the children's ages and number, and each parent pays a proportional share. Worksheets must be filed in every child-support case.
- What changed under the 2026 overhaul (EHB 1014)?
- Engrossed House Bill 1014 took effect January 1, 2026 and reworked the schedule: it expanded the economic table (support is now scheduled for combined net incomes up to $50,000 a month), raised the self-support reserve to 180% of the federal poverty guideline (from 125%), and added Paid Family & Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums to the allowed income deductions. Use the current calculator, since older ones apply the prior schedule.
- Does parenting time reduce support in Washington?
- It can. When the child spends more than 25% of the overnights (about 91+ nights a year) with the parent who would otherwise pay, the court may grant a residential-schedule deviation to account for what that parent spends directly. It is a deviation the court weighs, not an automatic formula credit.
- Until what age is support paid in Washington?
- Support ends at 18, or at high-school graduation if the child is still enrolled at 18 (RCW 26.09.170). Washington courts can also order postsecondary (college) support up to age 23 under RCW 26.19.090, which is decided separately from the basic obligation.
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the WSCSS Worksheet Calculator linked on this page, published by the DSHS Division of Child Support. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.