Washington LawHelp

Child support

Legal Information

• Asking DCS to Review Your Child Support Order for Modification

  3821EN - If you have a child support order that DCS is enforcing, you have a few options for getting it modified. This packet explains how to ask DCS to review your order to see if modification is appropriate in your case. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Can I Change My Support Obligation?

  Information about how to go about changing the amount of child support you pay. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Changing Your Child Support Court Order

  3814EN - This publication can give you a basic understanding of the laws that apply to changing a Washington State Child Support court order or responding to a proposed change. This information is presented as a list of frequently asked questions. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Child Support and License Suspension

  The Division of Child Support (DCS) may suspend licenses of parents who are behind in their child support payments. The law allows DCS to suspend any license issued by the State of Washington, including drivers' licenses, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, professional licenses and contractor or occupational licenses. This publication explains your rights and obligations under the law. Publication #3809EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Child Support Conference Boards

  A Conference Board is a way to resolve disputes about how the Division of Child Support (DCS) works your case. Read More

  By:

  Department of Social and Health Services

• Child Support Quick Estimator and Calculator for WA State

  Figure out a quick estimate or use the calculator to help you create a set of Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets. Worksheets are required when you are involved in the entry of a child support order. Read More

  By:

  Department of Social and Health Services

• Dealing with DCS: English is not my Native Language

  Information about your rights to interpretation and translation services through DCS. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Do You Owe Child Support?

  3810EN - This publication provides general information about how child support is set and your obligation to pay child support. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Filing a Motion to Adjust a Child Support Order

  3221EN - This packet will help you ask the court to change the child support amount. If you make this motion and give the court enough evidence to support a change, the judge will grant the motion and issue an Order on Motion to Adjust Child Support Order. You may only file this motion in limited cases. Read the instructions carefully to determine if this is the right packet for you. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing a Petition to Modify Your Child Support Court Order

  3224EN - This packet will help you fill out the paperwork to ask the judge to change the amount of your child support. If you provide enough evidence to support a change, the judge will issue a new Child Support Order. However, before you use this packet, and assuming you have concluded that filing a petition for modification of child support is what you want to do, you should check with your county's Family Law Facilitator or Court Clerk to see if your county has its own Petition for Modification of a Child Support order packet: a local packet may be easier for you to use because it will include the rules and forms for that county. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Filing for Waiver of Your Filing Fee

  3204EN - This packet includes the instructions and forms needed to ask the court to waive (not ask for) the filing fee required to file court papers in a civil case because you can't afford to pay the fee. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Finalizing a Modification of Your Child Support Court Order

  3229EN - This packet will help you finalize a petition to modify your Washington State child support court order. Use this packet only if you or the other party has already filed a Petition to Modify Child Support Order. You can use this packet whether you filed or responded to the petition. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Getting Child Support after High School

  Read this to find out when and how to change your child support order to include post secondary educational support making one or both parents responsible to pay for the child's educational expenses beyond high school. Publication #3818EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Getting Your Paperwork Ready So You Can Get Help with Your Family Law Case

  3130EN - Be ready for an appointment with someone who's going to help you with your family law case. That someone might be: an attorney; a family law facilitator; an advocate at your local Domestic Violence shelter; or a CLEAR advocate who is going over forms with you by phone. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• How Can I Collect Child Support?

  3812EN - This publication provides information on how the Division of Child Support (DCS), whose services are free, can help you set and collect child support. There is a locator service to help find parents who owe support. DCS can help you set child support even if the other parent of your children does not live in the state. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español