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State Guide · Arizona
Child Support in Arizona: How It's Calculated, Modified & Enforced
A plain-English guide to Arizona child support — the guideline model, how the number is computed, the modification and enforcement process, and where to find the official worksheet.
Direct answer
A broad measure of gross income from any recurring source — wages, bonuses, self-employment, military pay, pensions, Social Security, unemployment, disability, and recurring gifts. Child support received for other children and means-tested benefits are excluded.
Arizona uses the Income Shares Model adopted by the Supreme Court through Administrative Orders (current guidelines effective Jan. 1, 2022). Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined and matched to the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations; each parent pays a share proportional to income, with health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary costs added. Notable features: a parenting-time credit (reduces the obligation as overnights rise, up to 50% at 164+ days), a self-support reserve (80% of state minimum-wage earnings, about $2,100/mo in 2026), an older-child adjustment (+10% for age 12+), and Social Security derivative-benefit credits.
Open the Arizona child support calculator to see your own number under the current guideline: Arizona calculator.
How a support order is established in Arizona
Apply with the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) within DES, or file a petition in Superior Court.
Establish paternity if needed (voluntary acknowledgment or court order).
Use the official Arizona Child Support Calculator / worksheet, entering both parents\' income, parenting time, and add-ons.
The court applies the guidelines and enters a support order (deviations require written findings).
Payments go through the Support Payment Clearinghouse (income withholding).
Request a review/modification on a substantial change (e.g., ~20% income change) or every three years.
Worked examples
Illustrative example — two children, combined $6,000 — Parent A adjusted gross $3,600 (60%), Parent B $2,400 (40%); two children. Combined $6,000 → schedule basic obligation ≈ $1,429/month. Parent A\'s 60% share ≈ $857/month before parenting-time and add-on adjustments. Arizona splits the schedule amount by each parent\'s income percentage; parenting time and insurance/childcare adjust the final number.
Illustrative example — parenting-time credit — Same incomes, but the paying parent has 150 parenting days per year. The parenting-time table reduces the basic obligation by about 32.5% before splitting; Parent A\'s payment drops accordingly. More overnights mean a larger parenting-time credit in Arizona.
Modifying or enforcing an order
Orders in Arizona can be modified when there is a substantial change in income, custody, or circumstances. Use the modification eligibility check and the cross-state comparison tool to see how a move would change the outcome. Enforcement runs through the state agency and can include income withholding and contempt proceedings.
Official sources
Arizona Judicial Branch — Child Support Guidelines — https://www.azcourts.gov/familylaw/Child-Support-Family-Law-Information/Arizona-Child-Support-Guidelines
Arizona Child Support Calculator — https://www.azcourts.gov/familylaw/Child-Support-Family-Law-Information/About-the-Child-Support-Calculator
A broad measure of gross income from any recurring source — wages, bonuses, self-employment, military pay, pensions, Social Security, unemployment, disability, and recurring gifts. Child support received for other children and means-tested benefits are excluded.
How does parenting time change the amount?
The Parenting Time Table reduces the basic obligation from 0% (under 20 days/year) up to 50% (164+ days). Credit is applied before splitting each parent\'s share.
What is the self-support reserve?
It equals 80% of monthly full-time earnings at the state minimum wage (about $2,100/month in 2026); the order cannot push the payor below it.
Is there an adjustment for older children?
Yes. The guidelines add 10% to the basic obligation for each child age 12 or older.
What if the child gets Social Security derivative benefits?
Those payments are credited against the paying parent\'s obligation month by month.
Arizona child support calculator
Estimate for Arizona
Arizona uses the Income Shares model.
Enter the paying parent’s gross (pre-tax) monthly income.
Arizona Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Generated September 22, 2026 · Model: Income Shares · Income basis: gross · Statute: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-320
This is an informal planning estimate, not a court worksheet and not legal advice. Confirm the current guideline with the state child-support agency or a licensed family-law attorney.
Estimated monthly support$975.56per month
Official schedule: Arizona Child Support Guidelines, Schedule of Basic Support Obligations (A.R.S. § 25-320, eff 2022-01-01) (2022)
Annual estimate$11,706.72
Effective rate19.5%
MethodIncome Shares: combined income → official Arizona schedule → split by income share (+ add-ons, parenting-time credit)
View calculation breakdown
Combined parental income
$9,000
Total basic obligation (schedule)
$1,756
Obligor income share
55.6%
Obligor basic obligation
$976
Estimated monthly support
$976
How the basic obligation splits between parents
56%
44%
Paying parent: $976 Other parent: $780
Each parent pays their proportional share of the combined basic obligation.
Estimated monthly support by number of children
At the incomes you entered, for 2 children.
This article is general education, not legal or tax advice. For your exact number, open your state calculator.
Not legal or financial advice. This estimate follows the state’s statutory guideline formula but cannot capture every factor a court considers (health insurance, childcare, prior orders, deviations, imputed income).
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