Paying For Child Support And Alimony In Washington
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FAQ
Washington does not have a specific law that gives a 50/50 custody presumption. However, the state does promote joint custody in many cases. Because the state makes custody rulings based on the wellbeing of the child, it tends to preserve the status quo as much as possible.
A: The disadvantages of 50-50 custody are that children have a less stable living environment and must frequently move between homes. It can be complicated for both parents and children to frequently switch between homes.
| (Equal) The parent who qualifies as the “custodial parent” under federal tax law is the one who claims the children as dependents.
In essence, the court first looks at the economic need of the party seeking spousal support. The court measures this need by comparing the monthly income of the person seeking alimony with their monthly expenses. The shortfall between a party's income and their expenses is that party's economic need.
As a general rule of thumb, courts in Washington State award one year of alimony for every three or four years of marriage. There is no statute or case law explicitly stating this formula, but it is an oft mentioned rule and generally what courts can be expected to do.
The Guidelines set a minimum child support amount of $91.00 per child per month.
Child support is never deductible and isn't considered income. Additionally, if a divorce or separation instrument provides for alimony and child support, and the payer spouse pays less than the total required, the payments apply to child support first. Only the remaining amount is considered alimony.
If the check must be payable to the custodial parent, please include the SDU as the co-payee. For example, please make the check payable to “custodial parent and/or the state SDU.” Sending payments electronically to state SDUs is another way to ensure payments arrive quickly and safely.
