Divorced and divorcing parents in Washington need to be aware of changes to the state’s family law code that took effect on Jan. 1 of this year. Specifically, the changes involve the calculation of child support
The goal of lawmakers was to make the guidelines for how support is calculated more consistent and transparent, as well as fairer to parents of all income levels. It takes into consideration changes in income and the cost of living that have occurred since the laws were written. Let’s take a brief look at some of the key changes.
Increase to the self-support reserve
Previously, a parent couldn’t be ordered to pay an amount of child support that would leave them lower than 125% above the federal poverty line for a single-person household. That has been increased to 180%. This helps ensure that parents won’t have to pay so much child support that they could potentially slip into poverty.
It should be noted that parents with very low incomes may still be ordered to pay at least $50 in child support for each child per month unless a judge determines that even that would be unfair.
New income determination standards
The law has been revised to provide clearer rules on how a parent’s gross income is calculated. This is intended to provide more consistency in determining a parent’s income for child support orders.
Changes to the economic table
The previous child support economic table for presumptive support previously included combined parental monthly net incomes of up to $12,000. That’s been raised to $50,000 per month.
This will help high-income parents calculate the appropriate child support without having to negotiate an amount or rely on a judge to determine the amount.
Whichever side of the child support equation you’re on – or anticipate that you will be on when your case is finalized, it’s crucial to know the current law and how it will affect you, your child and your finances. Having experienced legal guidance can help you ensure that the law is applied correctly and that your and your child’s rights are protected.