2026 Child Support Rule Changes

1. Federal passport revocation for arrears (2026)

The federal Passport Denial Program has existed since 1996 (Section 452(k) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 652(k); the statutory threshold was cut from $5,000 to $2,500 by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005). For decades it was applied only when a parent applied for or renewed a passport. That changed in 2026.

How to avoid or reverse a revocation: a revoked passport cannot be used for international travel. Parents who are notified should contact their state child-support enforcement agency, verify the arrears balance, and — where possible — enter a payment plan. Once the debt is resolved, passport eligibility is restored after state and federal records update (the process can take several weeks). If you are already abroad, a U.S. embassy or consulate can issue a limited-validity emergency passport to return home.

Sources: U.S. Department of State (Feb. 10 & May 8, 2026 statements); U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (HHS/ACF); OCSE enforcement data; 42 U.S.C. § 652(k); Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996); Deficit Reduction Act (2005).

2. New York: CSSA cap rises to $193,000 (Mar. 1, 2026)

New York’s Child Support Standards Act (DRL § 240(1-b); Family Court Act § 413) applies the statutory percentages (17% / 25% / 29% / 31% / 35% for 1–5+ children) to combined parental income only up to a biennial, CPI-indexed cap. Effective March 1, 2026, the cap rose from $183,000 to $193,000 per year.

Income above the cap is not automatically excluded — the court has discretion to apply the statutory percentages to the excess, consider the factors in DRL § 240(1-b)(f), or blend both approaches, with findings on the record. A cap increase does not modify an existing order; you must petition for modification (Family Court Act § 451), typically by showing a substantial change in circumstances, three years since the last order, or a 15% income change.

Sources: N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240(1-b); Family Court Act §§ 413, 451; New York State Unified Court System biennial income-cap orders (2024–2026 & 2026–2028 cycles, effective Mar. 1, 2026).

3. Massachusetts: cap rises to $450,000 (Dec. 1, 2025)

The Massachusetts 2025 Child Support Guidelines (effective December 1, 2025, by order of the Probate and Family Court) raised the maximum combined available annual income to which the guideline worksheet applies from $400,000 to $450,000. Above the cap, the $450,000 level is treated as the minimum presumptive order; any additional amount on income above the cap is discretionary, and any percentage applied to that excess must bebelow the 10% rate applied at the cap.

The 2025 guidelines also raised the low-income minimum tranches (≤ $15/week for payors at or below $301/week gross; a $33/week max between $302–$391/week), set childcare at a $430/week per-child reasonable cost, and classified stock options and equity compensation as income under Section I.A.

Sources: Mass. 2025 Child Support Guidelines, Sections I–IV (effective Dec. 1, 2025), published by the Trial Court; M.G.L. c. 208 § 28; Task Force report (2024 review).

4. Washington: presumptive table cap $50,000 (Jan. 1, 2026)

Washington’s HB 1014 (effective January 1, 2026) raised the cap of the presumptive Economic Table from $12,000 to $50,000 of combined monthly net income, and raised the minimum-income threshold to $2,200/month. Above $50,000, the court may order more only with written findings. This is one of the largest table-cap increases in the country and matters most to higher-income parents in Washington.

Sources: Rev. Code Wash. § 26.19.020 (Economic Table); 2026 HB 1014 (effective Jan. 1, 2026); WA DSHS Division of Child Support (DCS) guideline materials.

5. Texas: percentage cap updated to $11,700/month (2025)

Texas applies a flat percentage of the obligor’s net resources (20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40% for 1–5+ children). The net-resources cap — above which the court has discretion — is adjusted for inflation under Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125. The current cap is $11,700/month (2025 adjustment). This page previously showed $7,500/month; the figure has been corrected and the state page now carries the cap and its year explicitly.

Sources: Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.125 (and § 154.126 for the discretion above the cap); Texas Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division notices.

6. California: statutory formula confirmed (SB 343)

Since September 1, 2024 (SB 343), California’s statewide uniform guideline is the statutory algebraic formula in Cal. Fam. Code § 4055: CS = K[HN − (H%)(TN)], where HN and TN are the high earner’s net disposable income and total net disposable income, H% is the high earner’s parenting-time percentage, and K is a sliding statutory factor. There is no lookup schedule — the formula and its K-factor table are in the statute. ChildSupportFig implements § 4055 directly; the California page is now marked official formula rather than a model estimate.

Sources: Cal. Fam. Code § 4055 (as amended by SB 343, eff. Sept. 1, 2024); Cal. Rules of Court, statewide uniform guideline appendix materials.

7. What to do with your number in 2026

• If you are negotiating now: use the 2026 numbers above — New York parents should model income up to $193,000, Massachusetts up to $450,000, Washington up to $50,000/month.
• If you have an existing order: a cap increase does not change it automatically. A modification petition is usually needed; bring your state’s current guidelines worksheet to the hearing.
• If you owe arrears: verify your balance with your state’s child-support agency before the passport threshold applies to you, and ask about a payment plan.
• Run your own state’s number: open your state calculator, compare across states with the comparison tool, or plan modifications with the what-if simulator.