Pennsylvania 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 assumption that children of separated or divorced parents should receive the same amount of financial support as they would if their parents were still together.
To calculate the amount of support under Pennsylvania's current child support guidelines, you can use the official Pennsylvania Child Support Estimator.
Pennsylvania's guidelines take into account many factors, including:
Learn more about child custody and child support in Pennsylvania, including what gets counted as income when calculating support.
(231 Pa.R.C.P. Nos. 1910.1-1910.50 (2024).)
Watch out for websites with so-called child support calculators for Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that these calculators are accurate and up-to-date. Pennsylvania 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 state calculator to get the most accurate amount of child support you may pay or receive. Be aware, however, that this will be an estimate. As explained below, the judge may order a different amount in your case.
Pennsylvania judges typically must order the amount of support calculated by the guidelines. Still, judges can deviate when the guideline amount is inappropriate.
When deciding whether to deviate, judges must consider:
If the judge deviates from the guidelines the judge must explain the justification for the deviation.
(231 Pa.R.C.P. Nos. 1910-16.1, 1910.16.5 (2024).)
If you're filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, you can request child support as part of that process. You can—and parents often do you—agree on an amount of child support as part of a divorce settlement. You'll have to submit your agreement for a judge to approve.
Each Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas has a Domestic Relations Section (DRS) that provides child support services. You can apply for child support at your local DRS. If you aren't married to your child's other parent, the DRS can help you establish paternity and then apply for support.
Each county has its own child support procedures and forms. To learn more about how things work in your county, check out PALawHelp.org or talk to a lawyer.
The Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) helps collect child support payments in Pennsylvania. BCSE offers an online tool parents can use to pay and receive support.
If you're having trouble collecting support payments, your local DRS can enforce child support orders using one or more of the following measures:
You can ask a judge to change the amount of support you pay or receive each month whenever there's been a "material and substantial" change in circumstances since your last order, such as:
You also have a right to ask the DRS to review your support order once every three years or whenever circumstances have changed since your last order.
(231 Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.19 (2024).)
Calculating child support is complicated. The BCSE publishes a Child Support Handbook that provides general information about how Pennsylvania's child support program works. You can also call the Child Support Helpline at 1-800-932-0211.
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.