Child Support in Arizona: How It's Calculated
Arizona uses the Income Shares Model to determine child support obligations. This guide walks through how the formula works, what factors Arizona courts consider, and how to modify or enforce an order — with links to official Arizona resources.
Income Shares Model in Arizona
Arizona uses the Income Shares Model under its Child Support Guidelines (Rule 88, Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure). Both parents' gross incomes are combined to find a baseline obligation from the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, then divided proportionally.
Arizona provides a parenting time credit when the non-primary parent exercises more than the standard amount of parenting time. Once a parent has the child for at least 25% of the year (approximately 91 overnights), a credit is applied that can meaningfully reduce the support obligation. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Key Factors Arizona Courts Consider
- Both parents' gross monthly income
- Number of children
- Percentage of parenting time each parent exercises
- Child's health insurance costs
- Work-related childcare expenses
- Costs of the child's education, if court-ordered
- Any existing support obligations for other children
Official Arizona Resources
Get an accurate number from an official source
Child support calculations are complex and fact-specific. For an accurate figure, use Arizona's official worksheet or consult a licensed family law attorney. This guide explains the framework — it does not produce a binding calculation.
Step-by-Step: How Arizona's Formula Works
Here is how Arizona applies the Income Shares Model to calculate a child support obligation, step by step:
1. Determine each parent's income
Arizona starts by calculating each parent's income — gross income (before taxes). The specific definition of income is set by Income Shares Model.
2. Combine incomes and find the basic obligation
Both parents' incomes are combined and compared to Arizona's child support schedule. The schedule produces a basic child support obligation based on combined income and the number of children.
3. Add health insurance and childcare costs
Health insurance premiums paid for the child and work-related childcare expenses are added to the basic obligation before it is divided between parents.
4. Divide proportionally based on income share
The total obligation is allocated between the parents in proportion to each parent's share of combined income. The parent with the higher income share bears a larger portion of the obligation.
5. Apply parenting time credits
Percentage of parenting time each parent exercises parenting time credit when the non-primary parent exercises more than the standard amount of parenting time.
Document Everything for Your Arizona Case
Arizona courts rely on documented records — parenting time logs, expense receipts, and payment histories. ReplyCalmly helps you track all of it and generate organized, exportable reports.
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