Revised Child Support Laws in Washington State Could Mean Changes for You
Child support is a crucial element to a divorce settlement when the spouses have children. No surprise, then, that the legal community has been abuzz with the recent changes to Washington’s child support laws. Effective January 1st of this year, these changes revamp standards that haven’t been revised since October 2009 and include changes to how child support is calculated.
What’s Changed?
Washington has made significant changes to how child support payments are calculated. Previously, child support was calculated based on the child’s age bracket where children 12 years or older received a larger monthly support payment than children younger than 12.
These new changes remove the age restrictions so that child support is now the same for all children (for basic support) regardless of the child’s age. The recent legislation in Washington examines each parent’s earnings and allocates a standardized amount based on net income, and on a case-by-case basis, the percentage of time the children spend with each parent. You can review the latest information about the recent legislative changes here.
How Does This Impact Me?
If you finalized your divorce before January 1, 2019, these changes could have an impact on the amount of child support you are paying/being paid. The Levey Law Group is well-versed in analyzing child support and offers a free analysis to determine whether you would benefit from modifying or adjusting child support.
Will These Changes Impact My Parenting Plan?
The short answer is no. There have been substantial changes to the child support economic table, but they do not affect your parenting plan.
How Does This Impact Me Financially?
Washington has a projected child custody calculator where you can get a general idea of what your child support payments would be. It is important for you to be realistic when inputting your information, and while this calculator is a good resource, it still is best to contact us in order to get the most reliable information.
How can I Get Started?
The Levey Law Group is highly familiar with the intricacies of these changes and is ready to help you. With nearly 30 years of experience, we have helped countless clients ensure that the child support they pay or receive is appropriate given the parameters of the law. Contact us today to get started!
