Arizona Child Support — Calculator, Laws & Guide (2026)

Understanding Arizona child support laws helps both custodial and non-custodial parents know their rights and obligations. This comprehensive Arizona child support guide covers how payments are calculated, what income counts, when support can be modified, and how orders are enforced. Whether you are going through a divorce, seeking a modification, or dealing with non-payment, this guide explains Arizona’s child support system in plain language.

Verified against Arizona statutes and federal OCSE guidelines as of April 2026.

Arizona Child Support Overview

Arizona uses the income shares model for calculating child support. This model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family were intact. Both parents’ incomes are combined, and the support obligation is divided proportionally.

Arizona uses the Income Shares Model under ARS 25-320. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations (adopted by the Arizona Supreme Court, effective January 1, 2022) determines the total basic child support obligation based on combined income and number of children. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of combined adjusted income. A parenting time adjustment applies when the non-custodial parent has more than 92 days per year (approximately 25%). Children aged 12 and older trigger a 10% upward adjustment. A self-support reserve of 1685 per month (80% of federal poverty level) protects low-income obligors.

How Arizona Calculates Child Support

The Arizona child support calculation considers multiple factors:

1. Determine each parent’s gross income — wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, investment income, and other sources.
2. Calculate combined parental income — add both parents’ adjusted gross incomes together.
3. Apply the guideline schedule — Arizona’s guidelines provide a base support amount based on combined income and number of children.
4. Prorate between parents — each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.
5. Add healthcare and childcare costs — these are added to the base amount and divided proportionally.
6. Apply adjustments — parenting time credits, other child obligations, and special circumstances may adjust the final amount.

Online calculator: Use our child support estimator below to calculate your estimated obligation.

What Counts as Income in Arizona

Gross income from all sources before deductions or withholdings. Includes: salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, tips, self-employment income (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses), rental income, dividends, interest, investments, trust income, annuities, pensions, Social Security benefits, workers compensation, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, spousal maintenance received, military pay and allowances, severance pay, and expense reimbursements or benefits that reduce personal living expenses. Excludes: means-tested public assistance (TANF, SSI, SNAP/food stamps, General Assistance). Adjustments to gross income: subtract court-ordered spousal maintenance paid to a former spouse, court-ordered child support for other children, and health insurance premiums for the parent alone (not the child’s coverage) to arrive at Adjusted Child Support Income.

Imputed income: YES. Arizona courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. The court presumes a parent is capable of full-time employment at least at the applicable state or federal adult minimum wage, whichever is higher. For 2026, Arizona minimum wage is 15.15 per hour (approximately 2626 per month full-time). Imputed income is based on earning capacity considering work history, education, skills, age, available job opportunities, and childcare responsibilities. Exceptions: physical or mental disability limiting ability to work; attending school or occupational training to enhance earning potential; caring for a child with emotional or physical needs requiring the parent to stay home.

Deviation factors: Courts may deviate from guideline amounts when strict application is inappropriate or unjust, considering the child’s best interests. Factors include: extraordinary educational expenses for the child (competitive athletics, advanced academic programs, performing arts, special education); child’s special needs (extraordinary medical, developmental, or care expenses); significant travel expenses for exercising parenting time (especially long-distance); a parent’s financial hardship or significantly disproportionate income; seasonal or fluctuating income; shared parenting time arrangements; the child’s independent financial resources; the overall financial resources available to each parent’s household; and any other relevant factors the court deems appropriate.

Healthcare & Childcare in Arizona Child Support

Health insurance: The cost of the child’s health insurance premiums is added to the Basic Child Support Obligation and allocated proportionally between parents. Insurance must be accessible (available in the child’s geographic area) and reasonable (not exceeding 5% of the obligated parent’s gross income). If the child’s premium is not separately itemized, the total family premium is prorated by the number of people covered. Dental and vision insurance for the child is also included. The parent providing coverage receives a credit. Uninsured medical expenses are typically split proportionally between parents.

Childcare costs: Work-related childcare costs (necessary for employment, job training, or job seeking) are added to the Basic Child Support Obligation and allocated proportionally. Costs are annualized and divided by 12 for consistent monthly payments (e.g., school-year and summer costs are averaged). The childcare must be provided by someone not claimed as a dependent on the paying parent’s federal taxes. Costs must be appropriate to the family’s financial situation.

When Does Arizona Child Support End?

In Arizona, child support generally ends when the child reaches Child support ends on the last day of the month in which the child turns 18. If the child is still attending high school or a certified GED program at age 18, support continues until graduation or the child’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first. Under ARS 25-320(E), the court may order indefinite support for an adult child with a severe mental or physical disability that began before age 18.. However, support may continue or end earlier based on:

• The child graduates from high school (if still a minor)
• The child becomes emancipated (marriage, military service, self-supporting)
• The child has special needs requiring ongoing support
• College support: NO. Arizona does not require parents to pay for college expenses. College attendance alone does not extend the child support obligation beyond the standard termination age of 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Parents may voluntarily agree to contribute to college costs in a separation agreement, but courts cannot order it.

Modifying Arizona Child Support

When to modify: A modification requires a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Under Arizona Child Support Guidelines, a change that would alter the child support amount by 15% or more is presumed substantial. Common qualifying changes: significant increase or decrease in income, job loss, disability, change in custody or parenting time schedule, addition or change in health insurance, new children born to either parent, or change in childcare costs.

How to modify: Two procedures are available: (1) Standard modification — file a petition to modify with the Arizona Superior Court in the county where the original order was entered; (2) Simplified modification through the Arizona Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) — available when DCSS is providing services on the case. If the recalculated amount differs by at least 15%, the simplified procedure may be used. Either parent may request a review and adjustment through DCSS or file a motion with the court. DCSS modification request forms are available at des.az.gov.

Either parent can request a modification. Changes are typically not retroactive to before the date of filing the modification request.

Arizona Child Support Enforcement

Arizona has multiple tools to enforce child support orders when a parent fails to pay:

• Income withholding (wage garnishment) through the Arizona Support Payment Clearinghouse; state income tax refund intercept (for arrears of 50 or more); federal tax refund intercept; bank account and financial institution asset seizure (for arrears of 12 months or more); liens on real and personal property (homes
• vehicles); suspension of driver’s license; suspension of professional and recreational licenses; contempt of court (may result in fines or incarceration with work release); passport denial (federal
• for arrears over 2500); credit bureau reporting; lottery winnings intercept (for winnings over 600)

Contact Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), under the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) at https://des.az.gov/dcss for enforcement assistance.

Additional Arizona rules: Parenting time adjustment threshold is 92 days per year for the non-custodial parent; 10% older child adjustment for children aged 12 and older; Arizona minimum wage (15.15 per hour in 2026) is used as the floor for imputed income; the Arizona Supreme Court adopts and periodically reviews the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations (current schedule effective January 1, 2022, with a review pending in 2026); payments are processed through the Arizona Support Payment Clearinghouse; interest accrues on unpaid child support arrears under Arizona law.

Official Sources & Resources

• Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), under the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES): https://des.az.gov/dcss
• Federal OCSE: acf.hhs.gov/css
• Cornell LII — Child Support: law.cornell.edu
• Arizona Guidelines Statute: ARS 25-320 (child support guidelines, factors, methods of payment, enforcement provisions); ARS 25-501 (duties of support, termination age); ARS 25-503 (order for support, modification, termination)

Last verified April 2026. Contact us if you notice outdated information.

Estimate Your Child Support

Use our free child support estimator to calculate estimated monthly payments. Enter both parents’ incomes, number of children, and custody arrangement to see a personalized breakdown based on your state’s formula.

Related Guides

• Arizona Divorce Process Guide
• Arizona Child Custody Guide
• Arizona Alimony Guide
• All Child Support Guides