Which Child Support Calculator Should I Use?



The Administrative Office of the Courts has posted statewide guidelines for parenting time during the COVID-19 pandemic. / (La Oficina Administrativa de los Tribunales ha publicado una versión en español de las directrices de régimen de visitas a nivel estatal durante la pandemia del COVID-19.) 


DISCLAIMER
The purpose of this calculator is informational and educational only and does not constitute legal advice. The amount of child support a court will order for any particular case may be different from the amount estimated by the calculator. The court has the final authority to determine the amount of child support awarded. The amount yielded by this calculator is only an estimate and is not a guarantee of the amount of child support that will be awarded.

In cases of default, the guidelines in effect at the time of filing the action will be used. The parties may agree to use either the guidelines in effect at the time of filing the action or those in effect at the time the order is entered.

2021 Child Support Calculator: In January 2021, Arizona’s minimum wage increased to $12.15 per hour. This change impacts the calculation of self-support reserve test amount. In 2020, the calculator was updated to include the increase to minimum wage in the automatic calculation of the self-support reserve amount. For 2021, parties may use Maricopa County Superior Court’s calculator to calculate support: http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/ezcourtforms2/.

2018 - 2020 Child Support Calculator: On January 24, 2018, the Supreme Court adopted revisions to the Arizona Child Support Guidelines based in part on recent changes to state law increasing the minimum wage and new federal regulations. No updates or changes were made to the underlying Schedule of Basic Support Obligations. The 2018 child support guidelines are effective for all child support orders, whether original orders or modifications of previous orders, entered after March 31, 2018, except in cases of default or as otherwise agreed upon by the parties. (Arizona Guidelines and Administrative Order 2018-08). Note: For those who earn minimum wage in states other than Arizona, a new field was added in 2019 that automatically calculates the self-support reserve amount.  In 2020, the calculator was updated to include the increase to minimum wage in the automatic calculation of the self-support reserve amount for 2018, 2019, or 2020.

2017 Child Support Calculator: Section 15 (Self-Support Reserve Test) of the 2018 Child Support Guidelines, states that the self-support reserve shall be an amount equal to 80% of the monthly full-time earnings at the current state minimum wage at the time of the order. The minimum wage in 2017 was increased to $10 per hour, resulting in a self-support reserve of $1,386. This calculator is intended for minimum wages earned during the time period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, and it reflects a self-support reserve amount of $1,386. No updates or changes were made to the underlying Schedule of Basic Support Obligations since the 2015 child support quadrennial review.

2015 Child Support Calculator: On January 14, 2015, the Supreme Court adopted technical revisions to the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. The newly adopted statewide child support guidelines will be effective July 1, 2015, for all child support orders, whether original orders or modifications of pre-existing orders, entered after June 30, 2015. (Arizona Child Support Guidelines and Administrative Order 2015-06).