Washington Family Law Guide
Use this page when you need the broader Washington workflow: the current child support schedule, DCS estimator and service paths, modification and enforcement checkpoints, and Washington's factor-based maintenance framework.
Child support
Washington’s current child support baseline runs through the WSCSS worksheets, the 2026 economic-table refresh, and the DCS quick estimator.
DCS workflow
Washington child support cases continue to move through DCS services for enrollment, collection, modification review, and case management.
Maintenance
Washington maintenance remains statute-driven under RCW 26.09.090 rather than a single statewide percentage formula.
Use This With Other Washington Tools
Support pages should route back into the core Washington calculators and legal explainers.
Review the guideline rules, tables, and core legal standards for this state.
See how the Washington child support formula and worksheet logic are structured.
Start from the broad Washington support overview and route into the right tool.
The current Washington child support baseline
Washington Courts currently publishes the live WSCSS forms and worksheets, while DCS currently states that the January 1, 2026 refresh changed the economic-table income range to $2,200 through $50,000 and increased the self-support reserve to 180% of the federal poverty level.
RCW 26.19.020 still routes support through the economic table and worksheets, while RCW 26.19.065 still governs lower and upper limits such as the presumptive $50-per-child minimum and the self-support-reserve framework.
How the Washington DCS service path fits together
- Start through DCS enrollment. Washington currently lets families print forms, request materials by phone or mail, or visit one of nine offices.
- Use the quick estimator for preparation. The DCS estimator helps with screening and planning, but the real case still runs through the official worksheet and order process.
- Expect DCS to stay involved after intake. DCS currently states that it helps establish obligations, collect and process payments, and review and modify obligations.
- Keep child support and maintenance separate. Child support runs through the WSCSS schedule. Maintenance follows RCW 26.09.090 and related order terms.
Why Washington maintenance needs a separate lens
Washington child support has a live statewide schedule. Washington maintenance does not follow that same formula-first structure. Instead, RCW 26.09.090 keeps the court's attention on resources, need, time for training, standard of living, marriage length, age, health, and the paying spouse's ability to meet both parties' needs.
If your Washington case includes both child support and maintenance questions, start with the schedule-based child support lane first, then pressure-test maintenance under RCW 26.09.090 and the specific order text.
Washington source set for this guide
- Washington DCS home
- Washington State Child Support Schedule forms
- Washington child support services
- RCW 26.19.020
- RCW 26.09.090