The WASHINGTON STATE CHILD SUPPORT SCHEDULE is the mandatory method Washington courts use to set child support for most cases starting January 1, 2026. It combines definitions, standards, worksheets, and an economic table into one set of rules that must be applied across all counties and proceedings where support is set or modified.

The schedule applies in superior court and in administrative child support proceedings under Titles 13, 26, and 74 RCW. Every child support order must show the standard calculation from the schedule and then the actual amount ordered, with written reasons for any deviation.

Because the schedule is mandatory, Washington lawyers and legal‑ops teams must understand its structure: income rules, allocation rules, deviations, and limits like the self‑support reserve.

Core Definitions Lawyers Must Know

The 2026 Washington State Child Support Schedule starts with a tight set of defined terms that drive every calculation.

Key defined terms include:

  • Child support schedule – the entire system: standards, economic table, worksheets, and instructions created under chapter 26.19 RCW.
  • Economic table – the basic child support table in RCW 26.19.020 that lists the presumptive support obligation based on combined monthly net income and number of children.
  • Basic child support obligation – the monthly support from the economic table before add‑ons and deviations.
  • Standard calculation – the presumptive support for each parent before deviations, taken from the schedule.
  • Support transfer payment – the amount one parent must pay to the other, after applying the standard calculation and any deviations.
  • Deviation – any child support amount that differs from the standard calculation.
  • Worksheets – official forms created by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) under RCW 26.19.050; parties must use these, not custom spreadsheets.
  • Instructions – the official guidance issued by the AOC to explain how to complete the worksheets.

These definitions are not optional glosses; they are binding, and courts must apply them unless another statute clearly changes the context.

Washington State Child Support Schedule 2026: Complete Guide to Definitions, Standards, and Calculations

Where and When the Schedule Applies

The 2026 schedule must be applied to a wide range of matters.

Required use

Courts and administrative officers must use the Washington State Child Support Schedule:

  • In every county in Washington.
  • In judicial and administrative proceedings under Titles 13, 26, and 74 RCW (for example, dissolutions, parentage, and DSHS actions).
  • In all proceedings where child support is set or modified, including temporary and permanent support.
  • In automatic adjustment provisions in decrees under RCW 26.09.100.
  • For adult dependent children, when support is ordered under RCW 26.09.100.

Required findings, worksheets, and court review

Every order must:

  • Be supported by written findings of fact, including reasons for any deviation or for denying a requested deviation.
  • Attach or file completed official worksheets, signed or initialed by the judge, under penalty of perjury.
  • State both the standard calculation and the amount actually ordered.

The court must review every order to confirm that the reasons for deviation are adequate and that the amount ordered is adequate.

Income: What Counts, What Does Not, and How to Prove It

The 2026 schedule puts detailed income rules at the center of the calculation.

Consideration of income

All income and resources of each parent’s household must be disclosed and considered. However, only the parents’ income is used to compute the basic child support obligation; income of new spouses or other adults in the household is not included in the basic calculation.

Income verification

Parents must provide tax returns for the prior two years and current pay stubs to verify income and deductions. If some income or deductions do not appear on those documents, other sufficient proof is required.

Income is included in gross monthly income

Gross monthly income includes almost every type of earnings, such as:

  • Salaries, wages, commissions, deferred compensation, and overtime (unless excluded under RCW 26.19.071(4)(i)).
  • Contract‑related benefits and income from second jobs (unless excluded under RCW 26.19.071(4)(i)).
  • Dividends, interest, trust income, severance pay, annuities, capital gains, pension, and retirement benefits.
  • Workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, bonuses, Social Security, and disability insurance benefits.
  • Income from self‑employment, rent, royalties, contracts, proprietorships, or closely held companies.

Veterans’ disability pensions and regular disability compensation must be disclosed and may be treated as disposable income for support calculations.

Income is excluded from gross monthly income

Some income must be disclosed, but is not included in gross monthly income:

  • Income of a new spouse, domestic partner, or other adults in the household.
  • Child support received for other children.
  • Gifts and prizes.
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Aged, Blind, or Disabled assistance (ABD); pregnant women assistance; and food stamps.
  • Some overtime or second job income beyond 40 hours per week, when used to meet current family needs or retire debt, and when it will cease once debts are paid.

Receipt of TANF, SSI, ABD, or food stamps alone cannot justify a deviation from the standard calculation.

Net income: allowed deductions

To reach net monthly income, the following are deducted from gross monthly income:

  • Federal and state income taxes.
  • FICA (Social Security and Medicare).
  • Mandatory pension plan payments and mandatory union or professional dues.
  • Other mandatory state deductions, such as required state insurance premiums, Paid Family and Medical Leave contributions, and long‑term services and supports trust contributions.
  • State industrial insurance premiums.
  • Court‑ordered maintenance is actually paid.
  • Up to 5,000 dollars per year in voluntary retirement contributions, if there is a pattern in the prior year and they were not made simply to reduce child support.
  • Normal business expenses and self‑employment taxes for self‑employed persons, with justification for disputed expenses.

Items deducted from gross income cannot be reused as reasons to deviate from the standard calculation.

Imputing Income When Records Are Missing, or a Parent Is Underemployed

The schedule requires imputation of income in many common scenarios.

When courts must impute income

Courts must impute income when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. The court considers assets, residence, work history, job skills, education, literacy, health, age, criminal record, job search efforts, the local job market, and prevailing wages.

Courts may not impute income:

  • To a parent who is fully and gainfully employed full‑time, unless the court finds deliberate underemployment to reduce support.
  • To a parent who is unemployed.
  • To a parent who is unemployed or significantly underemployed due to court‑ordered reunification efforts or voluntary placement agreements in dependency cases.

Order of priority for imputing income

When imputing income (other than for high‑school scenarios), courts must follow this order:

  1. Full‑time earnings at the current rate of pay.
  2. Full‑time earnings at a historical rate of pay based on reliable data, such as Employment Security records.
  3. Full‑time earnings at a past rate of pay where information is incomplete or sporadic.
  4. Earnings of 32 hours per week at minimum wage for parents currently on or recently off TANF, SSI, ABD, essential needs programs, or recently released from incarceration or recent high‑school graduates.[page:3–4]
  5. Full‑time earnings at minimum wage for parents with a recent minimum‑wage history or no significant earnings history.
  6. Median net monthly income from a Census‑based table, if no other method can be used.

If the median net monthly income table is used, the imputed amount counts as net income, and no deductions are entered on the worksheet.

Special rule for high‑school students

For a parent currently enrolled full‑time in high school, courts must consider all circumstances of both parents. If such a parent is still found voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court imputes income at 20 hours per week at minimum wage, which is a rebuttable presumption.

How the Economic Table and Basic Child Support Obligation Work

The economic table is the backbone of Washington’s child support calculations.

Basic obligation from the table

To find the basic child support obligation:

  1. Calculate each parent’s monthly net income (after deductions).
  2. Add those amounts to get the combined monthly net income.
  3. Look up the basic support obligation for that income and the number of children in the economic table.
  4. If needed, use per‑child amounts to handle different parenting plans or children in multiple households.

Example from the schedule

The schedule gives the following example:

  • Combined monthly net income: 8,500 dollars.
  • Number of children: 2.
  • Economic table basic support obligation: 994 dollars per child, total 1,988 dollars.
  • Parent 1 net income: 3,500 dollars.
  • Parent 2 net income: 5,000 dollars.
Temporary Child Custody Forms & Guardianship Agreement Templates

Temporary Child Custody Forms & Guardianship Agreement Templates

Each parent’s percentage of combined net income:

  • Parent 1: 3,500 ÷ 8,500 ≈ 41.2%.
  • Parent 2: 5,000 ÷ 8,500 ≈ 58.8%.

Allocation of the basic support obligation per child:

  • Parent 1: 994 × 0.412 ≈ 409.53 dollars per child.
  • Parent 2: 994 × 0.588 ≈ 584.47 dollars per child.

For two children, Parent 1’s basic share is 819.06 dollars, and Parent 2’s share is 1,168.94 dollars. The court then determines which parent pays a transfer payment based on the residential schedule and deviations.

Income range and higher‑income cases

For 2026, the economic table is presumptive for combined monthly net incomes up to and including 50,000 dollars. For incomes above 50,000 dollars, the court may exceed the maximum presumptive amount based on written findings.

Allocation of Support and Treatment of Add‑On Expenses

Once the basic child support obligation is set, the schedule divides that amount and adds certain expenses.

Allocation of basic child support

The basic child support obligation from the economic table is split between the parents based on each parent’s share of the combined net income, as shown in the example above.

Healthcare expenses

Healthcare expenses are not included in the economic table. Monthly healthcare costs must be shared in the same proportion as the basic obligation and include medical, dental, orthodontia, vision, chiropractic, mental health, prescriptions, and similar costs.

Daycare and special child‑rearing expenses

Daycare and special child‑rearing expenses (such as tuition or long‑distance transportation for visits) are also not included in the economic table. These expenses must be shared in the same proportion as the basic obligation and are subject to court review for necessity and reasonableness.

Limits: 45% Cap, Self‑Support Reserve, Minimum Support, and Incarceration

The 2026 schedule includes several key limits intended to balance support needs with a parent’s ability to pay.[page:5–6]

45% cap on total child support

No parent’s total child support obligation for all of their biological or legal children may exceed 45% of their net income, unless there is good cause.[page:4–5] Before applying this limit, courts must weigh the best interests of the children and each parent’s circumstances, including hardship, assets, liabilities, and any involuntary limits on earning capacity like incarceration or disability.[page:4–5]

Presumptive minimum support

If a parent’s monthly net income is below 180% of the federal poverty guideline for a one‑person family, the court must enter a support order of at least 50 dollars per child per month unless that would be unjust in that case. Again, the court considers the best interests of the children and both parents’ circumstances.

Self‑support reserve

The paying parent’s basic support obligation (excluding healthcare, daycare, and special expenses) may not reduce their net income below a self‑support reserve equal to 180% of the federal poverty level for a one‑person family, except for the 50‑dollar minimum per child or where the court finds it would be unjust to apply the reserve.

If a parent’s income is above that level, no basic support obligation for all children may reduce their income below the self‑support reserve, again subject to the 50‑dollar minimum and a similar “unjust to apply” analysis.

Incarcerated parents

When a paying parent is incarcerated for six months or more, child support may be temporarily reduced to 10 dollars per month per child support order. Child support then gradually increases in the year after release.

High‑income cases

The economic table is presumptive only up to a combined net income of 50,000 dollars per month. Above that amount, the court may award more support than the table’s maximum, but only with written findings.

Deviation Standards: When and How Courts Depart from the Schedule

The schedule lists detailed reasons that may justify a deviation from the standard calculation.[page:6–7]

Income and tax‑related reasons

Courts may deviate after considering:

  • Income of a new spouse or domestic partner if the requesting parent is also asking for another deviation; that income alone is not enough.
  • Income of other adults in the household if the parent seeks another deviation; again, not enough on its own.
  • Child support is actually received from other relationships.
  • Gifts, prizes, possession of wealth (savings, investments, real estate, business interests, vehicles, pensions, insurance, and similar assets).
  • Extraordinary income of a child.
  • Tax planning, but only if the children do not receive a lesser economic benefit.
  • Certain income that was excluded from gross income if the earner seeks a deviation for another reason.

Nonrecurring income

Courts may deviate if part of the income used in the basic obligation is nonrecurring, such as sporadic overtime, bonuses, or second‑job income. Deviations for nonrecurring income should be based on a review of the prior two years.

Debt, high expenses, and special needs

Courts may deviate based on:

  • Extraordinary debt not voluntarily incurred.
  • A significant disparity in living costs due to circumstances beyond a parent’s control.
  • Special needs of disabled children.
  • Special medical, educational, or psychological needs.
  • Costs linked to court‑ordered reunification or voluntary placement agreements.

Residential schedule

Courts may deviate if the child spends a significant amount of time with the parent who pays support. The court must consider increased expenses for that parent and any decreased expenses for the receiving parent. Courts cannot grant a deviation on this basis if it would leave the receiving household without enough funds to meet the child’s basic needs or if the child receives TANF.

Children from other relationships

Courts may deviate when any parent has children from other relationships to whom the parent owes support.

Important points:

  • The schedule is applied first to the family before the court to find the presumptive amount.
  • Children from other relationships are not counted in the number of children when finding the basic obligation.
  • Only children to whom a duty of support is owed may be considered, and only court‑ordered support that is actually paid may be considered.
  • Deviations must reflect the total circumstances of both households, and all obligations paid, received, and owed for all children must be disclosed.

Required findings for deviations

All parties’ income and resources, and those of new spouses or other adults in the household, must be disclosed and considered. Courts must:

  • First, determine the presumptive amount from the schedule.
  • Order that amount unless specific reasons for deviation are set out in written findings and supported by evidence.
  • Enter findings explaining each deviation or denial of a requested deviation.

Agreements of the parties are not enough by themselves to justify a deviation.

Practical Worksheet Instructions for 2026 (Two‑ and Three‑Parent Families)

The 2026 schedule includes updated instructions for the official worksheets.[page:8–10]

Worksheet variants

  • Two‑parent families use WSCSS – Worksheets 2.
  • Families with three legal parents use WSCSS – Worksheets 3.
  • Families with more than three legal parents must create their own worksheets.

At the top, users must mark whether the worksheets are proposed or an order, identify who prepared them, and supply the county, case number, and names and ages of only the children whose support is at issue.

Each parent’s name is placed at the top of a column, and that column holds that parent’s information throughout.

Washington State Child Support Schedule 2026: Complete Guide to Definitions, Standards, and Calculations

Part I – Income (lines 1–4)

The instructions mirror the income standards:[page:8–9]

  • Line 1a – Wages and salaries: average monthly wages, salaries, contract benefits, bonuses, and qualifying overtime/second job income.
  • Line 1b – Interest and dividend income: average monthly dividends and interest.
  • Line 1c – Business income: average monthly self‑employment, rent, royalties, business, partnership, or closely held corporation income.
  • Line 1d – Maintenance received: monthly maintenance actually received.
  • Line 1e – Other income: income tax refunds, trust income, severance, annuities, capital gains, pension, workers’ compensation, unemployment, Social Security, disability insurance, and similar items.
  • Line 1f – Imputed income: imputed gross monthly income for voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parents or where earnings records are missing, using the statutory priority rules and, if needed, the median net monthly income table.
  • Line 1g – Total gross monthly income: sum of lines 1a–1f.

Deductions in lines 2a–2i reflect the allowed deductions described above, and line 3 is the net monthly income for each parent.[page:9–10] Line 4 is the combined monthly net income.

Using the median net monthly income table

If none of the first five imputation methods can be used, the instructions direct courts to impute net monthly income from a table of approximate median net monthly income by age and gender based on U.S. Census Bureau data.

In that scenario, the table’s amount is treated as net income; no deductions are entered for that parent on lines 2a–2i.

Post‑Secondary Educational Support under the Schedule

The schedule also addresses post‑secondary educational support.

Key points:

  • The schedule is advisory, not mandatory, for post‑secondary educational support.
  • Courts must first decide whether the child is dependent and relies on the parents for basic needs.
  • Courts then exercise discretion based on factors like the child’s age, needs, abilities, goals, the nature of the schooling, parents’ education and resources, and what support the child would have had if the parents had stayed together.
  • The child must enroll in an accredited academic or vocational school, actively pursue a course of study that matches their goals, and stay in good academic standing; support is automatically suspended if these conditions are not met.
  • The child must make grades and records available to both parents; both must have full and equal access to these records under RCW 26.09.225.
  • Courts generally may not order post‑secondary support past the child’s 23rd birthday, except in exceptional situations such as serious disabilities.
  • Courts may order payments directly to the school, to the child, or to the parent who receives support, depending on where the child lives and feasibility.

2026 Washington Schedule in Context: Key Highlights Table

The 2026 WASHINGTON STATE CHILD SUPPORT SCHEDULE reflects statutory updates and policy shifts that practitioners should track.[page:5–6]

Feature (2026 schedule) How it works in 2026 Why it matters
Economic table range Presumptive up to 50,000 dollars combined net income per month. More predictability in higher‑income cases.
Self‑support reserve 180% of the federal poverty level for a one‑person family. Limits orders that push obligors below subsistence.
Minimum support Presumptive minimum of 50 dollars per child for low‑income obligors. Ensures at least some support while recognizing hardship.
45% cap Total obligations normally may not exceed 45% of net income.[page:4–5] Protects against unmanageable stacked orders.
Incarceration adjustment Orders may be reduced to 10 dollars per month per order during long incarceration. Reduces uncollectible arrears buildup.

(Alt text for table: “Key features of the 2026 Washington State Child Support Schedule, including economic table range and self‑support reserve, under the WASHINGTON STATE CHILD SUPPORT SCHEDULE.”)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Washington calculate child support in 2026?

Courts start with each parent’s net monthly income, then add the incomes together to get a combined figure.[page:3–4,8] They use the 2026 economic table to find the basic child support obligation for that income and number of children, then split that amount based on each parent’s share of the combined income. The result is adjusted for healthcare, daycare, special expenses, and any properly supported deviations.[page:4,6–7]

What is the “basic child support obligation” in Washington?

The basic child support obligation is the monthly support amount taken directly from the economic table based on the parents’ combined monthly net income and the number of children. It does not include healthcare, daycare, or special child‑rearing expenses, which are added and shared separately. This figure forms the foundation for the support transfer payment.

Does overtime or a second job always count as income?

Yes, overtime and second‑job income are generally included in gross income, but with important limits. Overtime or second‑job income beyond 40 hours per week can be excluded when it is used to support the current family or pay off debts, and will end once those debts are paid. Parties must disclose this income, and the court decides whether it should be included based on the statute and the facts.

What is the minimum child support in Washington State under the 2026 schedule?

For a parent with a net monthly income below 180% of the federal poverty guideline for a one‑person household, the court must usually order at least 50 dollars per child per month. The court may go lower only if that minimum would be unjust in the specific case after considering both households’ circumstances and the child’s best interests.

How does the 2026 schedule treat incarcerated parents?

If the paying parent is incarcerated for six months or more, the court may temporarily reduce support to 10 dollars per month per child support order. After release, support gradually increases over the first year back in the community. This approach aims to ease uncollectible arrears while maintaining a minimum obligation.

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Disclaimer: The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice.

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