Child Support in Washington, DC
Parents must financially support their children. When parents are not together, the parent who spends less time with the child pays child support. If they share custody 50/50, the parent who earns more generally pays.
In Washington, D.C., support is paid until the child turns 21.
How support is calculated
D.C.'s child support guidelines govern how support is calculated.
The support amount depends on a number of factors, including:
- Number of children
- Parents' combined annual gross income
- Parenting time
- Support paid for other children
- Other children a parent must support in their home
- Cost of private school tuition, work-related child care and the cost of the child's healthcare
The parent who pays support is the payor, while the parent who receives support is the payee.
Support calculator
The calculator above will give you an estimated support amount based on your income, number of children, and overnights.
Use D.C.'s Child Support Guideline Calculator to get an estimate that factors in more information. It will ask for information on work-related child-care expenses, the cost of health insurance for the child, and more.
High-income cases
The guideline formula is for parents with combined incomes of up to $240,000 a year. Once you're over that threshold, the judge can deviate from the guidelines so that support is in line with the lifestyle the child is used to. The judge may use an alternate formula called the Holland method as a guide.
It's best to consult an attorney if you are in a high-income situation. According to Attorney Jenna Moheyer, the calculation has to be done by hand.
Parenting time
The custody schedule determines how much time each parent spends with their children. If there isn't a court-ordered schedule, the judge asks parents about the routine they've followed the past few months. "The court always asks for the status quo," says Attorney Moheyer.
Parents with shared physical custody — at least 128 overnights a year each — often pay a lower amount of support than parents with less time. You can calculate your overnights with Custody X Change.
Child Support Services
The Child Support Services Division (CSSD) manages child support along with D.C.'s Office of the Attorney General.
CSSD can help you:
- Get a child support order
- Enforce child support
- Establish paternity
- Locate a parent
- Get health insurance for your child
Any parent can enroll in Child Support Services. Parents on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid are automatically enrolled. A parent can ask to not be enrolled if there's a good reason. For example, if there's been domestic violence or safety concerns, the parent may request an exemption from CSSD.
Enrolling in CSSD can help you save on legal fees since the office has attorneys on staff.
Applying for child support
There are two ways to apply for support:
- Apply for TANF or Medicaid (must meet income requirements)
- Apply for support through D.C. Superior Court
Agreeing on child support
You can go through the conciliation process to reach a support agreement, or negotiate one-on-one on your own or with the help of a mediator.
In the conciliation process, you and the other parent will have a virtual conference with a CSSD attorney. If you reach an agreement, the attorney will write the terms of the agreement into a consent order and submit it to a judge for approval. You'll get a copy of the order in the mail.
Receiving child support
There are two ways to receive child support:
- Electronically (through a child support debit card or direct deposit)
- Checks
Custodial parents on TANF or Medicaid must assign their right to receive support to the District. D.C. law allows the first $200 of child support to pass through to the payee.
Paying child support
Support is paid directly to the payee or through the Child Support Clearinghouse, then distributed to the payee.
There are four ways to pay child support:
- Wage withholding: The payor's employer withholds child support from the payor's wages and sends the payment to the Clearinghouse for processing and distribution.
- Mailing payments: The payor mails a child support payment directly to the Clearinghouse.
- Paying online: The payor pays online via debit or credit card.
- Paying in cash: The payor makes a cash payment through CSSD's PayNearMe program at a participating retailer.
Wage withholding is the most common payment method.
If the payor loses their job, they must make payments by one of the other methods. If the payor starts a new job, they must inform CSSD of the job change so the agency can send a wage withholding order to the new employer.
Enforcing child support
CCSD will take enforcement action when the payor misses a payment.
Possible penalties for missed support include:
- Seizure of tax refunds and lottery winnings
- Suspension of driver's license
- Liens on property
- Seizure of bank accounts
- Reports to credit bureaus
The payor cannot refuse to pay child support because the payee withholds visits. The payee cannot withhold visits because the payor missed child support payments.
Even after the child turns 21, the payor has to pay any child support they failed to pay earlier (called arrears).
Changing the child support amount
You can ask for a review and modification of support through CSSD every three years.
After you make the request, you'll have a conference. CSSD will propose a new support amount and give you time to negotiate with the other parent.
If you agree to CSSD's proposal or a different amount, you can sign a consent order together.
If you don't agree on a support amount, you'll need to file a Motion to Modify Child Support with the court. You'll have a modification hearing where the court will determine an appropriate amount.
Getting an accurate child support order
In D.C., payors with shared physical custody pay a lower support amount.
Estimating your number of overnights, rather than calculating them exactly, can impact your child support order by thousands of dollars a year.
The Custody X Change app lets you quickly calculate your time with your child.
Try this with Custody X Change.
Whether you're paying or receiving child support, use Custody X Change to make sure your calculation is exact. The number will affect you, your child and the other parent for years to come.
Frequently asked questions
What if I don't have any income?
The court may determine your income potential based on your education, job history, etc. This happens only if the court finds you are unemployed or underemployed as a way to pay less (or get more) child support.
What if I can't afford to pay child support?
If you have an annual income of less than about $16,000, the court presumes you can pay $75 per month in support. The court may adjust the amount to ensure you have enough money left over to care for yourself. The income threshold changes every couple of years.
If my child's grandparents or another third party has custody, do I still need to pay child support?
Yes. Both parents may need to pay monthly child support to the grandparents or other third party who has custody. The income of the third-party custodian does not factor into the support calculation.