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Child Support Guidelines

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Washington has enacted laws and established schedules and formulas for how to calculate child support. Our courts publish ‘support guidelines’ that provide a baseline for statutorily required support payments. Income levels, earning potential(s), number of children, and more are factored into the court’s calculations of this figure.

You can find and read these rules online. You should know, however, that the rules should not be taken literally. They are there to establish a baseline. A place for the clients, attorneys, and, if necessary, the courts to start.

You will not find the final figure in the statutes or online. Attorneys for either side can recommend a deviation from the guidelines – up or down – by documenting and presenting evidence to the court. The court will only accept recommendations after a thorough review of all available evidence.

This is a complex, emotionally charged area of family law that has a tendency to change rapidly, especially in this post-COVID era.

Whether settling child support payments, seeking a child support modification, or handling a contempt for non-payment, the first thing we look at are the children’s needs and each parent’s economic situation.

Remember, when it comes to child custody, parent plans, and child support, lawyers must always consider the interests of the children first.

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Client Testimonials

Haifan Yao

3 months ago

Cecilia is an exceptional family law attorney who combines deep legal expertise with genuine compassion, making a difficult process much easier to navigate.

Wendy Zhou

3 months ago

Cecilia takes the time to understand her client’s needs and goes above and beyond to get the best results. Sharp, caring, and always on top of things. Highly recommend.

Devon Bentley

4 months ago

Northwest Family Law is a great firm. They are very professional and knowledgeable. Working with Cydney Fermstad in the past, she was helpful, thorough, and went above and beyond for me. I will choose to work with Northwest Family Law in the future if I need their specific services.

Kai Zhang

3 months ago

Cecilia was amazing at finding the perfect balance between being tough in negotiations and genuinely caring about us. She helped us get a fair outcome, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have had her by our side. I’d recommend her in a heartbeat to anyone looking for a skilled yet caring family lawyer.

Huang Ivy

4 months ago

Cecilia is an exceptional lawyer who consistently demonstrates professionalism and deep legal knowledge. She is thorough in her work, communicates clearly, and ensures her clients are well-informed throughout the legal process. Her dedication to achieving the best outcome is evident in her attention to detail and strong advocacy. I highly recommend Cecilia for anyone seeking reliable and effective legal representation.

liu hui

4 months ago

I had the pleasure of working with Cecilia as my family law attorney, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with her services. She is extremely professional and knowledgeable in her field. Cecilia provided me with invaluable advice and guidance throughout the process, and her expertise helped me navigate through some challenging situations. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of legal assistance. Her support has been a tremendous help to me and my family.

Haifan Yao

3 months ago

Cecilia is an exceptional family law attorney who combines deep legal expertise with genuine compassion, making a difficult process much easier to navigate.

Alison Carr

3 months ago

Northwest Family Law is a top notch law firm. Cydney and her team are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate. They always go above and beyond for their clients. I could not recommend this firm more!

Aubrey Chavez

4 months ago

Cydney and her team at Northwest Family Law is outstanding. They are professional, attentive, compassionate, and genuinely cares about their clients. The entire firm is committed to providing top-notch service. I highly recommend them for anyone seeking reliable and compassionate legal support!

Julia

4 months ago

I haven’t personally used Northwest Family Law’s services, but I’ve heard nothing but great things about their professionalism and dedication to clients. Their team is known for being compassionate, especially when it comes to handling complex family matters. Cydney, who works there, is incredibly knowledgeable and always speaks highly of the firm’s commitment to supporting families through challenging transitions. Based on what I’ve seen and heard, I would absolutely recommend Northwest Family Law to anyone seeking a law firm that truly cares about its clients and their futures.

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