• Home
• Divorce and Separation
• Legal Separation
• Property Division
• Business Assets
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Spousal Maintenance
• Restraining Orders
• Dividing Retirement
• Attorney Profiles
• Contact Us
• Testimonials
• Revised Code of Washington

At Tsai Law Company, we have over 30 years combined experience in child support in Washington State.  We can assist you with your questions regarding the calculation of income, deviation of child support, child support payments, and child support enforcement.

Child Support is the amount of money paid by both parents to support your children in a divorce, legal separation or paternity matter.  The provisions governing child support are codified in RCW 26.19.  Both parents have a duty to provide financial support to your children.  Child Support is paid by the non primary residential parent (non custodial parent) to the primary residential parent (custodial parent).  The legislature has determined a schedule and amount of child support based on combined monthly net incomes.  Each parents' child support obligation or “standard calculation” is determined pursuant to the child support schedule in proportion to their net monthly income.  However, only the non primary or non custodial parent transfers money to the primary or custodial parent on a monthly basis. 

The Legislature recently passed into law a new schedule and new child support law with provisions effective October 1, 2009.  Pursuant to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1794, there are substantial changes to the child support schedule.  For example, the combined monthly income cap has been increased to $12,000 rather than $7,000 prior to the new legislation.  There have also been changes to how overtime or income from second jobs are treated for purposes of child support.  Additionally, changes regarding the imputation of income to a parent have been completely revamped with a priority of facts required to be considered by the Court.

There are many factors that can influence whether the judicial officer grants a deviation in the amount of child support paid by the non custodial parent to the custodial parent.  For example, the residential schedule in the parenting plan is one basis to grant a deviation in the amount of child support.  Having a child or children of a prior of subsequent marriage or relationship is another basis for a deviation in the amount of child support.  However, both households' income need to be considered as well as whether a deviation would result in insufficient funds in the primary or custodial parent’s household to meet the needs of the children.  In such a case, the judicial officer is precluded from ordering a deviation from the child support schedule.