Arizona Child Support Calculator (2026)
Arizona child support is set by the Arizona Child Support Guidelines: both parents’ incomes are combined, matched to the court’s Schedule of Basic Support Obligations, split by income share, and then reduced for parenting time. The calculator below runs that same sequence using the court’s complete schedule — all 586 income rows for one to six children — so you can see a realistic monthly figure before you file.
You worked hard for your family, and a child support case is stressful enough without guessing at the numbers. Use the estimate to plan, then let a Certified Legal Document Preparer prepare the court-ready Child Support Worksheet and petition for you.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona’s 2022 Child Support Guidelines are still the current version as of September 2026; they apply to orders entered after January 1, 2022.
- For one child, the schedule’s basic monthly obligation is $750 at $4,000 of combined income, $953 at $6,000, and $1,274 at $10,000 — before the parenting-time credit.
- The parenting-time credit ranges from 0% (under 20 days a year) to 50% (164 or more days) of the basic obligation.
- A new calculation that differs from the current order by 15% or more is evidence of changed circumstances for a modification.
Is there a “2026” Arizona child support guideline? Not as of September 26, 2026. The Arizona Judicial Branch still lists the 2022 Guidelines as the current version. This calculator applies that schedule and the 2026 Arizona minimum wage of $15.15 an hour, which sets the self-support reserve.
Arizona Child Support Calculator (Current Guidelines)
Enter monthly amounts before taxes. Your result shows the full step-by-step math so you can compare it with the court’s own worksheet.
Estimated monthly child support
$0
Estimate only. It follows the 2022 Arizona Child Support Guidelines, but it does not include attributed income, a spousal-maintenance tax adjustment, children with different parenting schedules, split custody, benefits paid for a child, or a deviation. The court has final authority over the amount ordered. This calculator is general information, not legal advice.
Ready for the real worksheet? Call 602.892.2218 or request a free consultation and we will prepare your court-ready Child Support Worksheet.
How Arizona Calculates Child Support
Arizona uses the Income Shares Model: the child should receive the same share of parental income the child would have received if the parents lived together. The Guidelines turn that idea into a fixed sequence, and the court’s computer-based Child Support Worksheet performs it. Here is the sequence in plain English:
- Each parent’s Child Support Income. Income from any source before deductions — wages, self-employment profit, bonuses, commissions, rental income, Social Security, unemployment and spousal maintenance received. Means-tested benefits such as TANF, SSI and nutrition assistance are not counted.
- Adjustments. Court-ordered spousal maintenance actually paid and court-ordered support actually paid for children of another relationship are subtracted. A parent raising another child at home may also receive an adjustment.
- Basic Child Support Obligation. The combined adjusted income is matched to the nearest $50 row of the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations, in the column for the number of children.
- Additions. 10% for each child over age 12, plus the children’s medical, dental and vision premiums, work-related childcare, and agreed or court-ordered education and extraordinary expenses.
- Income shares. Each parent owes the combined obligation in proportion to income. If one parent earns 60% of the combined income, that parent owes 60%.
- Parenting-time credit. The parent with less time subtracts a percentage of the Basic obligation from the Parenting Time Table.
- Credit for costs paid. A parent who pays the insurance, childcare or extra expenses directly subtracts those payments.
- Self-Support Reserve Test. The court checks that the paying parent keeps at least 80% of full-time minimum-wage earnings — $2,100.80 a month in 2026.
The court orders the resulting amount unless it finds the Guidelines amount unjust in a specific case and makes written findings for a deviation under A.R.S. § 25-320. For a court-ready child support worksheet and petition, contact Dynasty Legal Documents at 602.892.2218.
What you need to calculate child support
The court provides detailed information in order to give you the tools necessary to calculate child support on your own. The Child Support Calculator is an interactive program that will calculate a child support amount based on the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. You will need the following information in order to calculate child support:
- Children’s names and dates of birth
- Child support income of both parents
- Spousal maintenance paid or received resulting from this marriage
- Court-ordered child support for children of other relationships
- Medical, dental and vision insurance costs for children only
- Extra education expenses paid
- Extraordinary child expenses paid
- Parenting time days per year, if not equal parenting time
- Court-ordered arrears paid by the parent paying child support
The parties can also agree to deviate from the child support guidelines. Additional language will need to be included in your court documents in order to obtain a deviation and will need to be approved by the Judge. Dynasty Legal Documents can draft your documents so they are in compliance with the latest rules and laws.
Child Support can be paid in different ways such as through the Child Support Clearinghouse, through an Income Withholding Order and/or directly to the person receiving the support.
“The purpose of the child support calculator is informational and educational only and does not constitute legal advice. The amount of child support a court will order for any particular case may be different from the amount estimated by the calculator. The court has the final authority to determine the amount of child support awarded. The amount yielded by this calculator is only an estimate and is not a guarantee of the amount of child support that will be awarded.” (About the Child Support Calculator)
How Much Is Child Support in Arizona for 1 Kid?
For one child, Arizona’s schedule sets a basic monthly obligation of $574 at $3,000 of combined parental income, $883 at $5,000, $953 at $6,000 and $1,274 at $10,000. Each parent owes a share of that figure based on income, and the parent with less time then subtracts a parenting-time credit.
Worked example: Parent A earns $4,000 a month and Parent B earns $2,000; their one child lives with Parent B and spends alternate weekends (52 days a year) with Parent A. The schedule amount for $6,000 is $953. Parent A’s two-thirds share is $635.33, minus a 7.5% parenting-time credit of $71.48, so Parent A pays about $564 a month. With no parenting time, the same parents would see about $635.
| Combined monthly income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $574 | $874 | $1,057 |
| $4,000 | $750 | $1,123 | $1,349 |
| $5,000 | $883 | $1,332 | $1,596 |
| $6,000 | $953 | $1,429 | $1,700 |
| $7,000 | $1,031 | $1,548 | $1,845 |
| $8,000 | $1,092 | $1,622 | $1,912 |
| $10,000 | $1,274 | $1,889 | $2,224 |
| $12,000 | $1,416 | $2,088 | $2,443 |
| $15,000 | $1,650 | $2,415 | $2,801 |
| $20,000 | $1,991 | $2,912 | $3,376 |
| $30,000 (schedule maximum) | $2,572 | $3,911 | $4,723 |
Parenting Time Adjustment (The Big One)
The parent with less parenting time subtracts a percentage of the Basic Child Support Obligation, and the percentage rises with each band of days per year. This is the most misunderstood piece of the Arizona calculation. Arizona counts parenting time in days — each 24 hours is one day, and leftover blocks count as a full, half or quarter day — not simply in overnights.
| Parenting-time days per year | Adjustment | Example: $953 basic obligation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–19 | 0% | No credit |
| 20–34 | 2.5% | $23.83 credit |
| 35–49 | 5% | $47.65 credit |
| 50–69 | 7.5% | $71.48 credit |
| 70–84 | 10% | $95.30 credit |
| 85–99 | 15% | $142.95 credit |
| 100–114 | 17.5% | $166.78 credit |
| 115–129 | 20% | $190.60 credit |
| 130–142 | 25% | $238.25 credit |
| 143–152 | 32.5% | $309.73 credit |
| 153–163 | 40% | $381.20 credit |
| 164 or more | 50% | $476.50 credit |
The jumps between bands are large. Moving from 142 to 143 days raises the credit from 25% to 32.5%, and reaching 164 days raises it to 50%. The Guidelines also say the counting rules are only for child support and do not change or interpret a parenting-time order. Accurately counting parenting time is critical; if you are not sure how your proposed parenting plan translates to days, we can walk through the count with you before your documents are prepared.
Who Pays Child Support With 50/50 Custody in Arizona?
With essentially equal parenting time, the parent with the higher income usually pays the lower-earning parent, because the 50% parenting-time credit only offsets part of the higher earner’s share. Equal time does not automatically mean $0 in Arizona.
Example: parents earning $6,000 and $4,000 a month share one child equally. The schedule amount is $1,274. The higher earner’s 60% share is $764.40, minus the 50% credit of $637, so the higher earner pays about $127 a month. Paying the child’s insurance or childcare directly can change the result, and in some cases the direction of payment flips.
What Affects Your Child Support Amount
Several factors push your payment up or down. Understanding them helps you estimate more accurately and plan for the conversation with your co-parent.
Factors That Typically Increase Child Support
- Higher gross monthly income (your income is the single biggest factor)
- More children from the relationship
- Children age 12 or older (10% added per child)
- Fewer parenting-time days per year
- Your share of health insurance premiums for the child
- Work-related childcare costs
- Agreed or court-ordered private school tuition or extraordinary expenses
Factors That Typically Decrease Child Support
- More parenting-time days (especially at 143 and 164 days a year)
- Court-ordered support you pay for other children
- Spousal maintenance you are paying to a former spouse
- Insurance, childcare or other child costs you pay directly
- Lower gross monthly income, or income below the self-support reserve
What Doesn’t Count in the Calculation
Parents often ask if new spouse income, stepchildren, or a second job count. Under the Guidelines, a new spouse’s or stepparent’s income is not included, and supporting stepchildren is treated as voluntary. Courts generally do not count more than full-time earnings, so optional overtime or a second job is usually left out unless it was historically earned and is expected to continue. Voluntarily reducing income — quitting a good job to pay less — can lead the court to use “attributed income” instead under A.R.S. § 25-320(N).
Is There a Cap on Child Support in Arizona?
Arizona’s schedule stops at $30,000 of combined monthly income, which is a presumptive ceiling rather than a hard cap. Above $30,000, the court uses the $30,000 amount unless a parent asks for more and shows the higher amount is in the child’s best interests. At that ceiling the basic obligation is $2,572 for one child, $3,911 for two and $4,723 for three. At the low end, the Self-Support Reserve Test lets the court reduce support when paying it would leave the parent below $2,100.80 a month in 2026.
When Should You Modify an Existing Child Support Order?
Arizona allows a modification when there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances under A.R.S. § 25-327. Under the Guidelines, a new calculation that varies 15% or more from the existing amount is evidence of that change, and it qualifies for the simplified modification process. Common triggers include:
- A change in either parent’s income large enough to move the calculated amount by 15% or more
- A significant change in parenting time
- A change in health insurance or childcare costs (a change to who provides insurance can use the simplified process without the 15% test)
- A child reaching the age of majority — 18, or up to 19 if still in high school — while other children remain on the order
- Either parent losing a job, going on disability, or experiencing a major income event
Support for a child who ages out does not drop automatically; the order has to be modified. Maricopa County’s filing fee for a simplified child support modification is $102 (Clerk of the Superior Court fee schedule, checked September 26, 2026). We prepare modification petitions regularly. Call 602.892.2218 if any of the above apply to you.
Child Support Documents We Prepare — and What They Cost
Dynasty Legal Documents prepares and files the documents for new orders, modifications and responses, at published flat fees where the scope is predictable. The packages below include filing all documents in your case; court filing fees are not included.
Petition to Establish (No Judgement)
$475
Includes: Petition to Establish, Parenting Plan, Child Support Worksheet, Summons, Preliminary Injunction, Order and Notice to Attend Parent Information Program, and Sensitive Data Sheet.
Petition to Establish (with Judgment)
$950
Includes: Petition to Establish, Parenting Plan, Child Support Worksheet, Summons, Preliminary Injunction, Order and Notice to Attend Parent Information Program, Legal Decision-Making Order, Sensitive Data Sheet, Acceptance of Service, Consent Judgment.
Child support is also built into our divorce and legal separation packages with children, which include the Child Support Worksheet — see Arizona divorce document packages. Modifications, responses and contested matters are quoted individually after a free consultation (Call for Pricing).
| Filing | Court fee |
|---|---|
| Establish Support — new case | $306 |
| Paternity / Maternity petition | $371 |
| Answer — Establish Support | $217 |
| Simplified Child Support Modification | $102 |
| Establish Support — post-decree | $102 |
Put together, a Petition to Establish package runs from about $781 all-in ($475 plus the $306 establish-support fee) to about $1,321 ($950 plus the $371 paternity fee), before any process server fee. Fee deferrals and waivers are available from the Clerk for qualifying parents.
What we prepare for child support cases:
- Petition for Child Support (new orders)
- Petition to Modify Child Support (existing orders)
- Child Support Worksheet (the form the court actually requires)
- Parenting Plan
- Income Withholding Order
- Response to Petition for Child Support
- Post-decree enforcement paperwork
Why Work With Dynasty Legal Documents
You have three options when you need to file for child support in Arizona, and each suits a different situation.
| Option | What you get | Cost structure |
|---|---|---|
| Family law attorney | Legal advice, strategy and representation in court | Usually a retainer plus hourly billing |
| Do it yourself | Forms from Maricopa County’s Self-Service Center; you handle formatting, filing and procedure yourself | Court fees only |
| Certified Legal Document Preparer (CLDP) | Professional preparation and filing of your documents at your direction | Published flat fees from $475, plus court fees |
Dynasty Legal Documents is Arizona Supreme Court certified (CLDP #81830 and #81440). We’re not attorneys and we don’t give legal advice — but we prepare court-ready documents for Arizona families every day, at a fraction of attorney pricing. Owner Melissa Moy has worked in the legal field since 2007, has been a Certified Legal Document Preparer since 2014, and was appointed in 2023 to the Arizona Supreme Court’s Board of Nonlawyer Legal Services Providers. You can read what clients say on our reviews page.
We’ll meet with you at our Gilbert office (1539 W. Elliot Rd, Ste 103) or Mesa office (7510 E. Main Street), walk through your situation, run your exact numbers on the court’s worksheet, and file your complete document package with the Clerk of the Superior Court once approved. Call 602.892.2218 or request a free consultation. Prefer to read the full process first? See how to file for child support in Arizona without a lawyer.
When to talk to an attorney instead
- The other parent is disputing income, hiding income, or asking the court to attribute income to you.
- You want advice on whether to request a deviation, or on legal decision-making strategy.
- Your case involves domestic violence, an out-of-state order, or a contested hearing or trial.
- You already have an attorney on this matter.
We can refer you to attorneys in our Arizona referral network.
Direct Links Are Provided Below for Your Convenience
- Child Support Guidelines: child-support-guidelines-2022.pdf (still the current version)
- Child Support Calculator: Child Support Calculator
- Department of Economic Security iPayOnline: iPayOnline
- Child Support Worksheet forms: How to Calculate Child Support in Maricopa County, Arizona
- Self Service Child Support: Child Support & Family Law Information
- Child Support Calculator Information: Child Support Calculator
- Court filing fees: Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court filing fees
Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Child Support
How is child support calculated in Arizona?
Arizona uses the Income Shares Model. Both parents’ monthly incomes are combined, the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations sets the basic amount for that income and number of children, and each parent owes a share in proportion to income. The parent with less parenting time then subtracts a parenting-time credit, and insurance, childcare and other child costs are added and credited to whoever pays them.
How much is child support in Arizona for one kid?
It depends on combined income and parenting time. The schedule’s basic obligation for one child is $574 at $3,000 of combined monthly income, $883 at $5,000 and $953 at $6,000. For parents earning $4,000 and $2,000 with alternate-weekend parenting time, the higher earner pays about $564 a month. Use the calculator above for your specific numbers.
What are the child support guidelines for Arizona in 2026?
The 2022 Arizona Child Support Guidelines still apply in 2026. The Arizona Judicial Branch lists them as the current version, effective for orders entered after January 1, 2022. What changed for 2026 is the Arizona minimum wage, $15.15 an hour, which raises the self-support reserve to $2,100.80 a month.
Will child support change in 2026?
The schedule itself has not changed; as of September 26, 2026 the 2022 Guidelines remain current. An individual order can change through a modification when a new calculation differs from the current order by 15% or more, or when another substantial and continuing change applies.
How much child support will I pay if I make $1,000 a week?
$1,000 a week is about $4,333 a month. If the other parent earns $3,000 a month and you have one child, the schedule amount for $7,333 of combined income is $1,050 and your 59% share is about $620. With alternate-weekend parenting time (52 days), the 7.5% credit brings it to about $542 a month.
Does Arizona child support include healthcare?
Yes. The children’s share of medical, dental and vision premiums is added to the basic obligation and split by income share. The parent who pays the premium gets credit for it, which lowers what that parent pays or raises what that parent receives.
How does parenting time affect child support in Arizona?
The parent with less time subtracts a percentage of the basic obligation using a 12-band Parenting Time Table: 0% below 20 days a year, rising to 25% at 130–142 days, 32.5% at 143–152, 40% at 153–163 and 50% at 164 days or more.
Who pays child support in 50/50 custody in Arizona?
Usually the parent with the higher income pays the parent with the lower income, because the 50% parenting-time credit covers only part of the higher earner’s share. If the higher earner also pays the insurance or childcare, the amount can shrink to zero or reverse.
Can I modify an Arizona child support order?
Yes, when there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances under A.R.S. § 25-327. A recalculated amount that varies 15% or more from the current order is evidence of that change and can use the simplified modification process, which has a $102 filing fee in Maricopa County as of September 26, 2026.
Is there a cap on child support in Arizona?
The schedule ends at $30,000 of combined monthly income. Above that, the $30,000 amount is used unless a parent requests more and the court finds a higher amount is in the child’s best interests.
Is child support taxable in Arizona?
No. Child support is not taxable income to the parent who receives it and is not deductible for the parent who pays it. (The 2019 federal tax change applied to spousal maintenance, not child support.)
What happens if I don’t pay child support in Arizona?
Unpaid support becomes arrears that accrue interest under A.R.S. § 25-510. Arizona enforces child support through the Division of Child Support Services and the courts, which can include wage withholding, tax refund interception, license suspension, passport denial, credit bureau reporting and, in serious cases, contempt of court.
Do I need a lawyer to file for child support in Arizona?
No. Arizona allows parents to represent themselves (called “pro per”). Many parents file with court-ready documents prepared by a Certified Legal Document Preparer. If income is disputed, the case is contested, or you want advice on strategy, talk with a licensed attorney.
What’s the difference between a lawyer and a Certified Legal Document Preparer?
A Certified Legal Document Preparer (CLDP) is certified by the Arizona Supreme Court to prepare legal documents for people representing themselves. A CLDP cannot give legal advice or represent you in court; an attorney can. For straightforward child support cases, a CLDP prepares and files the documents at a published flat fee. Learn more about CLDPs.
Ready to Get Your Child Support Documents Prepared?
Whether you’re filing for a new child support order, modifying an existing order, or responding to a petition, Dynasty Legal Documents prepares every document you need — accurately, affordably, and ready to file at the Clerk of the Superior Court. Petition to Establish packages start at $475 flat.
Request a Free Consultation602.892.2218
Dynasty Legal Documents — Arizona Supreme Court Certified — CLDP #81830 & #81440 · 602.892.2218
Gilbert, AZ 85233
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DISCLAIMER: Dynasty Legal Documents is a certified legal document preparation service licensed by the Arizona Supreme Court (CLDP #81830 & #81440). We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or legal representation. The information contained on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Dynasty Legal Documents is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of information provided on this site.
