How to Calculate Child Support Payments in Washington D.C.

The District of Columbia has child support guidelines that parents and judges use to calculate the right amount of support in a particular case. The guidelines are based on the principle that both parents share responsibility for the financial support of their children.

How to Calculate Child Support Under D.C.'s Child Support Guidelines

To calculate the amount of support under D.C.'s current child support guidelines, you can use the official D.C. Child Support Calculator.

Washington D.C.'s guidelines take into account many factors, including:

• both parents' income
• the number of children who need to be supported
• the amount of time the children spend with each parent
• health insurance costs for the children, and
• child care expenses.

Learn more about child custody and child support in Washington D.C., including what gets counted as income when calculating support.

(D.C. Code § 16-916.01 (2024).)

Are Other Child Support Calculators Accurate?

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

It's best to stick with the official calculator to get the most accurate amount of child support you may pay or receive. Be aware, however, that this will be an estimate only and isn't a guarantee of the amount of child support a judge will order. As explained below, the judge may order a different amount in your case.

When Child Support May Be Different than the Guidelines Calculation

D.C. judges typically must order the amount of support calculated by the guidelines. Still, judges can deviate when the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.

When deciding whether to deviate, judges may consider many factors, including whether:

• the child or the parent paying support has exceptional needs
• the parent paying support earns substantially less than the other parent or is paying for certain expensive necessities, like tuition
• a property settlement in the divorce provides resources for the child in an amount equivalent to the guideline amount
• either parent supports another dependent (such as another child or elderly relative)
• the child has a regular and substantial income
• the parent paying support is 18 or younger and a full-time student, and
• any other circumstances would make ordering the guideline amount unfair.

(D.C. Code § 16-916.01(p) (2024).)

How to Apply for Child Support in Washington D.C.

If you're filing for divorce or legal separation in Washington D.C., you can request child support as part of that process.

You can also apply for child support through the D.C. Child Support Services Division (CSSD). The agency can also help you establish parentage and paternity if you aren't married to your child's other parent.

How to Collect Child Support in Washington D.C.

CSSD typically collects child support payments in D.C. Most child support orders in the district allow for wage (income) withholding, taking support payments directly from the paycheck of the parent who owes support.

If you're having trouble collecting support payments, CSSD can enforce child support orders using one or more of the following tools:

• intercepting tax refunds, workers' compensation, and disability income
• reporting the debt to credit bureaus
• placing liens on property and seizing financial assets
• passport denials or suspensions
• driver's license and vehicle registration suspensions, and
• holding the parent who isn't paying in contempt of court.

If you're having trouble making child support payments, CSSD has an in-house workforce development program and other resources to help you meet your child support obligation.

How to Change the Amount of Child Support

Either parent has a right to request a modification of a child support order by CSSD every three years. If it's been less than three years since your most recent order, you'll have to show that there's been a "substantial and material" change in circumstances since your last order, such as:

• job loss
• a change in income for either parent
• disability
• incarceration
• a change in expenses for the children
• a change in the custody arrangement
• more (or fewer) children being supported, or
• a change in the availability or expense of medical insurance.

A change is presumed to be substantial and material when applying the guidelines to the current circumstances would result in a 15% increase or decrease in the existing child support order.

You can also file your own motion to modify child support with the court.

(D.C. Code §§ 16-916.01(r), 16-916.01(t), 46-204 (2024).)

Getting Help With Child Support

Calculating child support is complicated. The D.C. Courts offer free help at the Family Court Self-Help Center. You can also find more information and court forms at LawHelp.org/DC.

If you and your co-parent can't agree on child custody, support, or both, you might need a lawyer's help. An experienced lawyer can answer your questions, help you negotiate an agreement that works for you and your child, and advocate for you in court if it comes to that.