How is child support calculated in Pennsylvania?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

Pennsylvania child support is set by a statewide guideline. The court adds both parents' monthly net incomes, looks up the basic support amount for that combined income and the number of children in the Supreme Court's schedule, and splits it between the parents in proportion to their incomes (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 and 1910.16-4). Adjustments follow for parenting time of 40 percent or more of overnights, child care, health insurance and certain other expenses. The guideline amount is presumed correct unless the court finds it unjust and explains why (23 Pa.C.S. 4322(b)).

For the custody and support work we do from our Media office, see our child custody and child support page. Other family matters are listed on our family law page.

How is the number calculated, step by step?

Rule 1910.16-4 lays out the worksheet the conference officer or judge fills in. In plain terms:

1. Gross income. Each parent's monthly gross income, ordinarily based on at least a six-month average, from any source: wages, bonuses, business income, rents, pensions, disability and unemployment benefits, even tax refunds and settlements (Rule 1910.16-2(a)).
2. Net income. Only certain deductions are allowed: income taxes, unemployment and local services taxes, Social Security and Medicare, mandatory retirement contributions, mandatory union dues and alimony paid to the other parent (Rule 1910.16-2(c)(1)). Voluntary 401(k) contributions are not on that list.
3. Combined income. Add the two monthly net incomes.
4. Basic support. Find the basic child support for that combined income and number of children in the schedule in Rule 1910.16-3.
5. Each parent's share. Each parent's percentage of the combined income is applied to the basic amount. The parent who is not the primary custodian pays that share; the guideline assumes the custodial parent spends the rest directly on the child.
6. Parenting time adjustment. If the paying parent has the child 40 percent or more of annual overnights, a rebuttable presumption allows a reduction (Rule 1910.16-4(c)(1)).
7. Additional expenses. Child care, health insurance premiums, unreimbursed medical costs over $250 a year per person, and possibly private school or camp are added and shared by income (Rule 1910.16-6).
8. Deviation, if justified. The court may depart from the guideline for listed reasons, but must state the calculated amount, the reason, the findings and the deviation amount (Rule 1910.16-5(a)).

What goes into each part of the formula?

How do I start a support case in Delaware County?

Support is handled by Domestic Relations in the Curran Building at the Courthouse complex in Media, not by the office that takes divorce and custody papers. The county says a custodial parent can call the Client Information Center for an appointment to apply in person, or file electronically through the state's child support website. Bring a driver's license or photo ID, Social Security cards for you and the children, the children's birth certificates and medical insurance cards.

The county's family court handbook says a Domestic Relations employee will help an unrepresented parent complete the petition, Domestic Relations serves the other parent by mail, and a conference is scheduled several weeks later. A step-by-step guide is in what happens at a support conference in Delaware County. For the conference itself, Pennsylvania's rule lists what to bring: your most recent tax return, pay stubs for six months, proof of child care costs and health coverage, and an income statement on the court's form (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.11(c)). A full walk-through of each office is on our page about Delaware County family court.

At the conference the officer calculates the guideline amount and tries to reach an agreement. If the parents cannot agree, a recommended temporary order is prepared, a Domestic Relations hearing officer can hear the case, and either parent has 20 days after the notice of the recommended order is mailed to ask in writing for a de novo hearing before a judge. Payments are due under the temporary order in the meantime (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.11).

Can the amount change later?

Yes. Either parent can file a petition for modification (see how to change a custody or support order) that states the material and substantial change in circumstances it relies on, such as a new job, a lost job or a new custody schedule (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.19(a)). A new or revised guideline can itself count as a substantial change. Once filed, a petition to modify child support cannot be withdrawn without both parents' consent or the court's permission (1910.19(b)), and the court may raise or lower the order no matter which parent filed (1910.19(c)).

Domestic Relations also acts on its own near the end of an order. Within six months before the child turns 18, it sends the receiving parent an emancipation inquiry asking about the graduation date, whether the child still lives at home, any agreement to pay beyond 18 and any special needs; if the inquiry is not returned within 30 days, the order may be modified or ended (1910.19(e)). Overpayments larger than two months of support are recovered by reducing a continuing order (1910.19(g)).

Support is a separate case from the divorce, filed at a different office. If you are also divorcing, see how to file for divorce in Delaware County. The county's other courts are described in our Delaware County overview.

What changes the answer?

• A parent who stops working or works less. A voluntary drop in income is not used to lower an existing order (Rule 1910.16-2(d)(1)). For a new order, the court imputes an earning capacity based on factors such as work history, skills, education, health, child care needs and the local job market (1910.16-2(d)(4)).
• An involuntary loss of income. A substantial continuing involuntary decrease, such as illness, layoff or incarceration, is adjusted (1910.16-2(d)(2)).
• Parenting time. At 40 percent of overnights or more, a reduction is presumed. With exactly equal time, the lower-earning parent is not ordered to pay basic support to the higher earner, though both can share additional expenses (Rule 1910.16-4(c)(2)). The schedule itself is decided in the custody case; see the steps in a Delaware County custody case.
• Unusual needs. Deviation factors include unusual needs and fixed obligations, other support obligations, other household income, the child's age, assets and liabilities, uninsured medical costs and the standard of living (Rule 1910.16-5(b)).
• Spousal support or alimony pendente lite. When a spouse is also owed support, that amount is calculated first and changes each parent's income for the child support step (Rule 1910.16-4(a)(1), Parts B and C).
• The child's age. Parents are liable for unemancipated children 18 or younger, and may be liable for children over 18 (23 Pa.C.S. 4321).

For example: one child, two incomes

Here is a hypothetical. A mother in Upper Darby has primary custody of one child. Her monthly net income is $3,000 and the father's is $4,500, so the combined income is $7,500 and the father earns 60 percent of it. The conference officer finds the basic support amount for one child at $7,500 in the schedule, and the father's preliminary share is 60 percent of that number.

The father has the child every other weekend and one overnight a week, well under 40 percent of overnights, so no shared custody reduction applies. The mother pays for after-school care; the father pays 60 percent of that cost as an add-on, and the same split applies to the child's uninsured medical bills above $250 a year. If the father later has the child 40 percent of overnights under a new custody order, he can ask Domestic Relations to modify support. This example only illustrates the method; actual numbers come from the current schedule and the evidence.

What mistakes do parents make with child support?

• Coming to the conference without documents. The rule lists what to bring, and the officer works from proof, not estimates (Rule 1910.11(c)).
• Quitting or cutting hours to lower support. The court looks at earning capacity, not chosen income (Rule 1910.16-2(d)).
• Counting voluntary deductions. Only the deductions in 1910.16-2(c)(1) reduce income.
• Not sharing child care receipts. The parent seeking a share must give the other parent documentation promptly (Rule 1910.16-6(a)(4)).
• Missing the 20-day window. If no one asks for a judge within 20 days, the temporary order becomes final, according to the county handbook.
• Stopping payments during an appeal. A request for a hearing does not pause the order.

What should I do this week?

1. Collect six months of pay stubs and your latest tax return with all schedules, W-2s and 1099s.
2. Gather receipts for child care, health insurance premiums and uninsured medical costs.
3. Write down the actual overnight schedule for the past few months.
4. Apply through Domestic Relations, in person by appointment or online.
5. Calendar the conference date and plan to attend; ask in advance if you need to appear by phone or video.
6. Book a consultation if income is disputed, self-employment is involved or a deviation may apply.

Frequently asked questions

Does child support end at 18?

Parents are liable for unemancipated children 18 or younger, and the statute also says parents may be liable for children 18 or older (23 Pa.C.S. 4321). The details are in when child support ends in Pennsylvania.

Can we agree on a different amount?

Parents can reach an agreement at the conference, but the guideline amount is presumed correct, and any deviation must be explained on the record or in writing (Rule 1910.16-5(a)).

Is child support affected by who gets the house?

The guidelines assume the parent living in the marital home pays the mortgage, taxes and insurance unless the order says otherwise (Rule 1910.16-6(e)). Property itself is divided in the divorce; see how property is divided in a Pennsylvania divorce.

Can support be ordered while the divorce is still pending?

Yes. Child support does not wait for the divorce, and a spouse may also seek spousal support or alimony pendente lite, but not both at once (Rule 1910.16-1(c)(1)). The divorce timeline is explained in how long a divorce takes.

Can a PFA order include support?

Yes, temporarily. After a hearing, a protection order may direct the defendant to pay support, but the beneficiary must file a support complaint within two weeks (23 Pa.C.S. 6108(a)(5)). See how a PFA affects custody.

What happens if the other parent does not pay?

Domestic Relations starts a contempt process with a conference in the Curran Building; a judge can order wage garnishment, seizure of bank accounts or tax refunds and, in serious cases, jail, according to the county handbook.

Call Giribaldi Law at (610) 891-8303 or contact us online for a free consultation before your support conference. Evening and weekend appointments are available.