Planning for Child Support in Arizona

Child support payments in Arizona are calculated based on the gross income of each parent, healthcare expenses of the child, daycare expenses in the case that the parent is not working at home, education expenses of the child,  the number of children living in the home and their ages, and the amount of visitation time of each parent, as well as other factors.

Typically, the child support payment amount calculated using the calculator from the Arizona Child Support Guidelines is considered to be the final amount that each parent will need to pay or receive. However, in some outstanding cases, the courts may decide to adjust the payment amounts based on the details of the case.

In the child support order issued by the Arizona courts, there is a date of termination listed. This date is most often the last day of the 18th birthday month of the youngest child who is receiving support. In the event that the youngest child will finish high school after they turn 18, then the child support payments will cease on the last day of the month of expected graduation or the last day of the birthday month they turn 19. In this case, the date chosen will be whichever occurs first.

There are some cases where Arizona courts may order a parent to continue child support payments after the child turns 18 or graduates high school. If the child has severe physical or mental disabilities and will not be able to support themselves financially as an adult, then child support payments may need to continue indefinitely. In addition, many parents determine that child support payments should continue as the child enters college, but this is not mandated by Arizona law.

When calculating the amount of child support that each parent will need to pay or receive based on the Arizona Child Support Guidelines, there are parts of a parent’s income that are not included. Support from the government, such as food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Supplemental Security Income, is not counted towards income. Additionally, the child support payments themselves will not be included.

In Arizona, each parent is responsible for providing financial support for their child according to their parenting time and income. Therefore, even in joint custody arrangements, one parent will likely still be making child support payments to another parent. The only way child support payments would not need to be made is if the parents made the exact same amount of money over a certain duration and if their visitation time was exactly the same, which is highly improbable.

Emancipation occurs when a 16 or 17-year-old in the state of Arizona is granted guardianship over themself. However, it is granted only if they are able to show that they can support themselves financially. If your child is emancipated in Arizona, you will first need to submit paperwork to the family court stating that your child is now emancipated. If approved, your payments should be reduced in amount, and you can get paid back for any overpayments that were made during this process.

In the state of Arizona, it is possible to agree on child support payment amounts in the initial separation agreement. The parents can agree on an amount that is greater than the amount suggested by the Arizona Child Support Guidelines, and they can also agree on payment periods that outlast Arizona requirements. If these arrangements are written into the divorce agreement, then they can be enforced by the courts – but they must be approved by a judge first.

Additional payments that can be agreed upon by both parents may include college tuition and other expenses related to college, financial support for summer camps and other activities during summer vacation, support for travel experiences, and money for private school. It is important to request or agree upon an appropriate child support amount during the divorce because opening back up a child support case can be complex and hostile and have negative repercussions for the children in the family.

Virtual visitation arrangements in Arizona are made so that children can benefit from seeing each of their parents regardless of logistical difficulties like location or schedule. Virtual visitation arrangements are intended to enhance the relationship and communication between you and your child. If you are granted virtual visitation, it does mean that your child support payment amounts will be reduced.

It is highly recommended to get a child support order, although it is not required by law if you and the child’s other parent create a written agreement regarding child support. However, if one parent later fails to make the appropriate payment and the other decides to go to the court for enforcement of child support payments, all payments will be enforced retroactively and be required from the time that parents physically separated, with some exceptions. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, have clarity on payment amounts, and avoid the enforcement of unexpected payments, it is recommended to get a child support court order at the time of separation.