Child Support
RCW 26.19.020 — an economic table, a 45 percent ceiling, a $50 floor and a self support reserve
Support starts from an economic table based on the parents' combined monthly net income. The table is presumptive for combined monthly net incomes up to and including $50,000, and above that the court may exceed the amount set for $50,000 on written findings of fact.
Who handles this in Washington: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Washington directory.
| The limit | What the section says |
|---|---|
| The limitCeiling | What the section saysNeither parent's obligation for all of that parent's children may exceed 45 percent of net income, except for good cause |
| The limitFloor | What the section saysWhere a parent's monthly net income is below 180 percent of the federal poverty guideline for one person, at least $50 per child per month, unless that parent shows it would be unjust |
| The limitSelf support reserve | What the section saysThe basic obligation does not take the paying parent's net income below 180 percent of the federal poverty level for one person, apart from the $50 minimum |
Before applying the 45 percent ceiling, the court considers whether it would be unjust given the child's best interests and each parent's circumstances, such as leaving too little in the custodial household for the child's basic needs. Good cause to go over it includes substantial wealth, day care expenses, and special medical, educational or psychological needs.
The table itself, the income rules and the worksheets are set out in the chapter and the forms that go with it. How they apply to a particular household are questions for a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- RCW 26.19.020 — Child support economic table
- RCW 26.19.065 — Standards for establishing lower and upper limits on child support amounts
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.