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Washington Child Support

Washington Child Support

WASHINGTON CHILD SUPPORT LAWS & REGULATIONS UPDATE 2023

A DECADE OF CHANGE: AN OVERVIEW OF WASHINGTON’S CHILD SUPPORT LAWS AND REGULATIONS TIMELINE (2013-2023)

Washington’s child support laws have evolved over the last decade to ensure the well-being of children while considering parents’ circumstances.

2013: Child Support Guidelines Update

   – Regular updates of child support guidelines to reflect economic realities.

2014: Efficient Payment Disbursement

   – Implementation of efficient methods for disbursement of child support payments.

2015: Holistic Child Well-being Focus

   – Emphasis on the overall well-being of the child in child support considerations.

2016: Strengthening Enforcement Measures

   – Introduction of robust enforcement measures for consistent child support payments.

2017: Income Verification Enhancements

   – Introduction of improved income verification methods for accurate calculations.

2018: Simplified Modification Procedures

   – Simplification of child support modification procedures for parents’ convenience.

2019: Responsive to Changing Dynamics

   – Consideration of changing family dynamics in child support calculations.

2020: Online Resources Accessibility

   – Provision of online resources for parents to manage child support cases.

2021: Ongoing Guidelines Review

   – Continuous review and updates of child support guidelines.

2022: Shared Parenting Support

   – Promotion of shared parenting arrangements for fair support calculations.

Washington’s child support regulations reflect its commitment to children’s well-being and parents’ responsibilities, ensuring equitable and consistent support calculations.


Washington child support arrangements are enforced by the Division of Child Support and provide services such as paternity establishments, payment processing and locating delinquent parents.

Any and all forms related to child support are processed at the DCS central services located in Tacoma, Washington. Child support determinations are made with respect to the earnings of both parents and the generally accepted needs of the child.

You may request the adjustment of child support benefits as long as the adjustment would result in an increase or decrease of 100 dollars or more and represent an increase or decrease of 25%.