Philadelphia Child Support Attorney

What You Need to Know About Child Support

When parents get divorced and have minor children from the marriage, or when unmarried parents separate, both parents should plan to pay a portion of a child support obligation. Pennsylvania law emphasizes that both parents have an obligation to financially support their children unless their income is so low that they cannot first provide for their own basic needs. Pennsylvania uses what is known as an “income shares” model to determine a child support obligation in which both parents contribute to the child’s financial support, as opposed to a system in which only a non-custodial parent pays child support.

Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines

The “income shares” model requires the court to combine both parents’ net monthly incomes to determine the total support obligation. Then the court uses a guidelines table to determine the total support obligation. The following are examples from the current guidelines for 2020 based on the parents’ combined net monthly income, showing a range of incomes:

• $0-$600: $50 per month for 1 child, $55 per month for two children, $60 per month for 3 children, $65 per month for 4 children, $70 per month for 5 children, and $75 per month for 6 children;
• $0-$600: $50 per month for 1 child, $55 per month for two children, $60 per month for 3 children, $65 per month for 4 children, $70 per month for 5 children, and $75 per month for 6 children;
• $1000: $244 per month for 1 child, $308 per month for two children, $346 per month for 3 children, $371 per month for 4 children, $394 per month for 5 children, and $414 per month for 6 children;
• $1500: $359 per month for 1 child, $521 per month for two children, $616 per month for 3 children, $681 per month for 4 children, $738 per month for 5 children, and $789 per month for 6 children;
• $2000: $472 per month for 1 child, $684 per month for two children, $807 per month for 3 children, $891 per month for 4 children, $966 per month for 5 children, and $1034 per month for 6 children;
• $3500: $708 per month for 1 child, $1028 per month for two children, $1197 per month for 3 children, $1323 per month for 4 children, $1434 per month for 5 children, and $1535 per month for 6 children; and
• $6000: $1065 per month for 1 child, $1532 per month for two children, $1794 per month for 3 children, $1982 per month for 4 children, $2148 per month for 5 children, and $2299 per month for 6 children.

The guidelines go up to a combined net income of $15,000 per month. Each parent’s percentage of the obligation is based on the parent’s income in proportion to the total combined income, the number of overnights with the child (for example, if one parent has sole physical custody, or one parent has substantially more time with the child), and other relevant factors.

Contact a Philadelphia Child Support Attorney

If you have questions or concerns about your child support case, one of the Philadelphia child support attorneys at our firm can answer your questions.