How to Calculate Child Support Payments in Arizona

How to Use the Arizona Child Support Calculator

To calculate the amount of support under Arizona's current child support guidelines, you can use the official Arizona Child Support Calculator. You'll need to sign up and create a login, which will allow you to create a child support worksheet and order. The worksheet will be one of the forms that you'll submit to the court along with your divorce papers and request for child support (more on that below).

You'll need to have some basic information on hand before doing the calculations, including both parents' income, what your physical custody (parenting time) arrangements will be, and your expenses for the child's health insurance coverage, work-related child care, and education. If you're still negotiating issues like custody and alimony, you might try multiple calculations under different scenarios.

Are Other Child Support Calculators Accurate?

Watch out for other websites with so-called child support calculators for Arizona. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that these calculators are accurate and up-to-date. Arizona updates its child support guidelines regularly, and you usually can't tell whether any of these other websites have kept up with the latest changes.

It's best to stick with the official state calculator to get the most accurate estimate of the amount of child support you may pay or receive. But notice that word "estimate." As we discuss in this article, the judge may order a different amount in your case. Of course, the accuracy of the child support calculation will also depend on the accuracy of the information you provide.

When Child Support May Be Different Than the Guideline Calculation

Arizona presumes that the amount calculated under the guidelines is appropriate, but you may argue that a different amount would be better in your situation. Whether you and the child's other parent have agreed on a support amount that departs from the guideline or a judge decides for you, the judge will have to find that using the amount calculated under the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate, and that a different amount would be in the child's best interests. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-320(D), Ariz. Child Support Guidelines, § IX (2024).)

Learn more about how child support works in Arizona, including factors judges must consider when deviating from the guidelines and what gets counted as income when calculating support.

How to Apply for Child Support in Arizona

Typically, you'll apply for child support as part of the process of filing for divorce in Arizona. You'll include your completed child support worksheet along with the other divorce papers.

If you aren't married to your child's other parent, you may get help with requesting support by applying for child support services from the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) in the Arizona Department of Economic Security. If needed, the DCSS may also help with establishing the child's legal paternity or parentage and locating absent parents.

How to Collect Child Support in Arizona

The Arizona Centralized State Disbursement Unit (SDU) will collect and process all court-ordered child support payments.

If you're having trouble collecting support payments, the Arizona DCSS can also help enforce court-ordered child support. Depending on how much the other parent owes, the agency has several ways of enforcing child support, including withholding support from paychecks, reporting the debt to credit bureaus, intercepting income tax refunds, intercepting workers' compensation or unemployment benefits, seizing money from bank accounts, and suspending the parent's driver's or other licenses.

How to Change the Amount of Child Support

Either parent may request a modification in the amount of child support in Arizona. Generally, you'll need to demonstrate that there has been a change in circumstances that is substantial and continuing, such as a parent's involuntary job loss. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-203(E), Arizona Child Support Guidelines § XIV (2024).)

You may request a review of your current child support order from the Arizona DCSS. However, the review and modification process could take up to six months. You also have the option of filing a request directly with the court. But without DCSS assistance, you should consider speaking with a family lawyer.