Pennsylvania child support is the court-ordered financial obligation requiring parents to contribute to their children's expenses based on state guidelines using an income shares model that calculates support amounts from both parents' combined net monthly incomes, with the PA child support program administered through county Domestic Relations Sections and accessible via the Pennsylvania Child Support Website where parents can request support services online, manage cases for receiving or paying support, and employers can handle wage-attached employees through step-by-step processes established by the state.
Overview of Pennsylvania Child Support
Pennsylvania child support ensures children receive adequate financial support from both parents regardless of whether parents live together, are separated, or divorced.
Purpose of Child Support
Child support payments help cover costs of raising children including:
- Housing and utilities
- Food and clothing
- Medical care and health insurance
- Educational expenses
- Childcare costs
- Extracurricular activities
Support obligations exist even when parents have no contact with children, unless parental rights have been legally terminated with court permission and another person (like a stepparent) assumes those rights through adoption.
Pennsylvania Child Support Program
The statewide PA child support program operates through county Domestic Relations Sections providing:
- Assistance locating noncustodial parents
- Establishing paternity when necessary
- Determining support obligations
- Collecting and distributing payments
- Enforcing support orders
Pennsylvania Child Support Website
The Pennsylvania Child Support Website (childsupport.pa.gov) provides convenient online access to support services and case information.
Available Online Services
- Request Support Services Online: Parents can initiate support cases electronically without visiting offices in person
- Manage Existing Cases: Those receiving or paying support can access case details, payment history, and account information
- Employer Services: Employers managing wage-attached employees can handle reporting and payment processing
- Attorney Services: Attorneys can request support services on behalf of clients
- Public Searches: Search dockets and liens related to support cases
Step-by-Step Login Guide
The Pennsylvania Child Support Website recently implemented a new login system requiring all users to update credentials before accessing accounts. A step-by-step guide assists users through the one-time update process ensuring continued access to online services.
How Child Support is Calculated
Pennsylvania uses an income shares model establishing support amounts based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income whether families live together or apart.
Step 1
Calculate both parents' monthly gross income including wages, self-employment income, bonuses, commissions, investment income, rental income, retirement benefits, disability and workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, alimony received, and other income sources
Step 2
Determine net monthly income by subtracting allowable deductions including federal/state/local income taxes, FICA payments, unemployment taxes, mandatory retirement contributions, mandatory union dues, and alimony paid to the other parent
Step 3
Combine both parents' net monthly incomes
Step 4
Find the basic support obligation from the support schedule based on combined net income and number of children
Step 5
Divide the total obligation between parents based on each parent's percentage of combined income
Example
If the custodial parent earns $3,200 monthly net and the noncustodial parent earns $4,800 monthly net, their combined income is $8,000. The noncustodial parent earns 60% of combined income ($4,800 ÷ $8,000) and would be responsible for 60% of the basic support obligation.
Adjustments to Basic Obligation
Additional expenses adjust the basic support amount including:
- Childcare costs necessary for work or education
- Medical insurance premiums for children
- Private school tuition or summer camp
- Mortgage payments for marital residence (in some cases)
These costs are typically split between parents based on income percentages, with the paying parent receiving credits against support obligations.
2022 Guidelines Changes
Pennsylvania updates support guidelines every four years. The 2022 revisions led to modest increases for most families, with parents whose combined net monthly income falls between $20,300-$22,600 seeing the largest percentage changes. These updates don't automatically modify existing orders, parents must file petitions for modifications based on guideline changes.
Shared Custody and Support
Custody arrangements significantly affect support calculations.
Assumption in Basic Guidelines
Basic support calculations assume children spend 30% of time with the paying parent (obligor) and 70% with the receiving parent (obligee).
Shared Custody Reductions
When children spend 40% or more time (at least 146 overnights annually) with the obligor, Pennsylvania law presumes the basic obligation will be reduced, typically by 20% for true 50/50 custody arrangements.
The receiving parent can argue against this reduction, making the presumption "rebuttable" rather than automatic.
Support in Equal Custody
Even with exactly equal 50/50 custody, the higher-earning parent typically pays reduced child support to the lower-earning parent, ensuring children's needs are met regardless of which home they're in.
Applying for Child Support
Multiple pathways exist for establishing child support in Pennsylvania.
Through Divorce Proceedings
Parents filing for divorce can request child support as part of divorce proceedings, with support determined alongside custody, property division, and other divorce-related issues.
Through Domestic Relations
Parents not married to each other or seeking support outside divorce apply through county Domestic Relations Sections by:
Filing Application
Complete and submit an Application for Child Support to the local Domestic Relations office
Scheduling Conference
A conference is scheduled before a Conference Officer (not a judge or attorney, but county-hired staff) to determine support amounts using guidelines
Providing Documentation
Bring proof of income including recent pay stubs and tax returns to the conference
Receiving Decision
Conference Officers calculate support based on provided information and guidelines
Appeal Option
Parties have 20 days after the conference to appeal the decision to a judge or Support Master
Online Applications
The Pennsylvania Child Support Website allows parents to request support services online, streamlining the application process.
Payment and Collection
Pennsylvania employs various mechanisms ensuring support is paid and collected efficiently.
Wage Attachments
Support orders through Domestic Relations are typically collected via wage attachments, with payments deducted directly from obligor's paychecks by employers and sent to the state for distribution.
Enforcement Actions
When support payments fall more than 30 days behind, Domestic Relations can initiate collection actions including:
- Intercepting federal and state tax refunds
- Suspending driver's licenses
- Suspending hunting and fishing licenses
- Reducing debts to judgments for collection
- Placing liens on property
- Ultimately, incarceration for willful non-payment
Payment Start Date
Support obligations begin from the date of filing, not the date of separation. Parents separated for extended periods without support orders cannot recover support for time before filing.
Modifying Child Support
Support amounts can be changed when circumstances substantially change.
Grounds for Modification
Material and substantial changes warranting modification include:
- Income changes for either parent (job loss, raise, new employment)
- Custody arrangement changes
- New ongoing childcare or medical expenses
- Parent's incarceration
- Parent's remarriage affecting financial circumstances
Modification Process
File a modification petition with the court demonstrating changed circumstances. Parents also have the right to request Domestic Relations review support orders once every three years or whenever significant changes occur.
Guideline Updates
Updates to support guidelines every four years constitute changes in circumstances warranting review, though modifications aren't automatic, parents must petition for adjustments.
When Support Ends
Pennsylvania child support obligations have defined endpoints.
Standard Termination
Support continues until children turn 18 or graduate from high school, whichever occurs later. This ensures support continues for children still in high school after turning 18.
Extended Support
Support may continue past age 18 and graduation for children unable to support themselves due to physical or mental conditions requiring ongoing assistance.
No College Obligation
Pennsylvania doesn't require parents to pay child support for college expenses. Support obligations end at high school graduation for children over 18 without disabilities.
Back Child Support
Unpaid support creates ongoing obligations and enforcement consequences.
Backdating Support
Support is backdated only to the filing date with rare exceptions, not to separation dates or when parents stopped living together.
Collecting Arrears
Back child support (arrears) remains collectible indefinitely through:
- Tax refund interceptions
- Preventing loan closings (mortgages, etc.) until arrears are addressed
- Reducing arrears to judgments for collection like any creditor debt
- Ongoing wage attachments
Agreements Between Parents
While parents can agree on support terms, certain limitations apply.
Voluntary Agreements
Parents can reach support agreements without court involvement. However, agreements outside Domestic Relations can't be enforced by courts or collected through state mechanisms.
Court Approval Required
Agreements must be submitted to courts for judge review and approval. Judges presume agreements significantly below guideline amounts don't provide fair support and will order guideline-consistent amounts instead, protecting children's rights to adequate support.
Dropping Support
If both parents agree, they can discontinue support orders. However, dropping court-ordered support eliminates enforcement and collection mechanisms.
Resources and Assistance
Pennsylvania provides numerous resources helping parents navigate child support.
Online Calculator
The Pennsylvania Child Support Website offers an online estimator calculating potential support amounts based on incomes and circumstances. Remember estimates may differ from actual court orders if judges deviate from guidelines.
Child Support Handbook
Comprehensive handbook available through the Pennsylvania Child Support Website explaining processes, rights, and obligations in detail.
Forms and FAQs
The website provides downloadable forms for various support-related filings and answers to frequently asked questions.
Legal Assistance
Complex situations, especially contested modifications or deviations from guidelines, benefit from family law attorney representation. Attorneys can negotiate agreements, advocate in court, and ensure rights are protected.
Moving Forward
Pennsylvania child support ensures children receive financial support from both parents through a comprehensive system administered by county Domestic Relations Sections and accessible via the Pennsylvania Child Support Website where parents can request support services online, manage cases for receiving or paying support, and access step-by-step guides for navigating the child support program. Understanding how PA child support is calculated using an income shares model based on combined parental net monthly incomes and adjusted for factors like shared custody and additional expenses, how obligations are established through applications to Domestic Relations or divorce proceedings, how payments are collected through wage-attached mechanisms and enforced through tax intercepts and license suspensions, and when support begins (filing date) and ends (age 18 or high school graduation) empowers parents to fulfill their responsibilities and protect their children's financial wellbeing throughout the support process from initial establishment through modification and eventual termination.