questions & answers

Question: I currently pay child support for three children. My oldest child turns 18 in November of 2020. My middle child turns 18 in December 2021 and my youngest child turns 18 in December 2022. THE 2018 ARIZONA CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES (adopted by the AZ Supreme Court) states that the 'presumptive termination date shall be the last day of the month of the 18th birthday of the youngest child.' Does that mean that I must continue to pay child support for ALL THREE CHILDREN until my youngest child turns 18 years old? Please advise. Thank you

Answer: You are correct in your interpretation.  However, look at page 21 of the 2018 child support guidelines.  The first paragraph reads:  "If child support for more than one child was ordered under these guidelines and hereafter the duty to support one of the children stops, the order is not automatically reduced by that child's share.  To obtain a modification to the child support order, a request must be made in writing to the court to recalculate the child support obligation pursuant to these guidelines. The procedure specified in Section 24 may be used for this purpose."  The instructions for modification of the order are on page 19 of the 2018 Arizona Child Support Guidelines.