Child Support in Arizona

Child support in Arizona is meant to make sure both parents contribute to the cost of raising their child, in a way that is predictable and fair. The good news is that Arizona uses a clear, written set of guidelines to figure out the amount. The hard part is making sure the right information goes into the calculation, because small errors can lead to a number that does not reflect your real situation.

The Arizona Child Support Guidelines look at several things: each parent's income, the number of children, the parenting time schedule, the cost of health insurance and childcare, and any extraordinary needs of the child. The more time a child spends with one parent, the more that parent's share of day-to-day costs is recognized. This is one reason an accurate parenting time schedule matters so much — it directly affects support.

Income for support purposes is broad. It includes wages, but also bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, and even some benefits. When a parent is self-employed or has irregular income, figuring out the true number can take careful work. And if a parent is earning less than they could on purpose, the court can "impute" income — meaning it calculates support based on what the parent could be making, not what they claim to make.

Child support usually continues until a child turns 18 and finishes high school, or turns 19, whichever comes first. It can also be modified later if circumstances change — for example, if a parent loses a job, a child's needs change, or the parenting schedule shifts. A support order is not set in stone, but changing it requires going back to court (or agreeing and filing the change), and we can guide you through that process.

If you are the parent who will pay support, we will make sure the calculation is fair and based on accurate numbers — not inflated estimates. If you are the parent who will receive support, we will make sure nothing is hidden and your child's real needs are counted. In both cases, our goal is a result you can live with and a process that feels clear rather than intimidating.

Support is about your child, not about winning. We will help you keep that focus while protecting your rights.