Spokane Child Support Lawyer

Family Law Focused. Guardian ad Litem Trained. Serving Spokane Since 2006.

Both parents have a legal obligation to support their children. When parents divorce, the court typically orders the non-custodial parent to pay child support to the parent with whom the children live. Washington State law governs both the amount and duration of those payments, and how the rules apply to your situation depends on facts specific to your family. If you have questions, we encourage you to contact Law Office of Benjamin D. Platt for guidance tailored to your circumstances.

Call Law Office of Benjamin D. Platt today at (509) 571-2277 or contact us online to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with our Spokane child support attorney.

What Is Child Support?

Child support is a court-enforceable legal obligation, not a voluntary arrangement. It ensures both parents contribute to their children’s financial well-being after a separation or divorce, covering basic needs: housing, food, clothing, education, and medical care. We help clients navigate the legal landscape surrounding child support with the child’s best interests at the center of every decision.

How Washington State Determines Child Support

Washington uses an income shares model under the Washington State Child Support Schedule (Chapter 26.19 RCW), combining both parents’ monthly net incomes to determine a base obligation. Each parent’s share of that obligation corresponds to their percentage of the combined income. The court focuses on helping ensure children have what they need for housing, food, clothing, daycare, and medical care.

Courts may deviate from the guideline amount when:

• One parent supports other children
• There is split custody or more than standard residential time
• One parent has extraordinary wealth
• A child has special needs
• Other special circumstances apply

When calculating support, the court looks at total household income, including the income of a new spouse or live-in partner. Both parents must provide proof of income, such as current pay stubs and tax returns. Additional expenses like daycare, education costs, and uninsured medical expenses are shared proportionally. Under RCW 26.19, the court must state its reasons in writing whenever it deviates from the guideline. Washington child support law is updated periodically, including changes to the self-support reserve, so current figures should be confirmed with an attorney. We advise clients on both standard calculations and deviation arguments and represent them in Spokane County Superior Court. Attorney Benjamin D. Platt’s Guardian ad Litem training gives him insight into how courts assess family circumstances beyond income figures alone.

When Does Child Support End in Washington?

In Washington, child support typically continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. There are exceptions, and we guide clients through each of them.

Post-Secondary Child Support

A court may order support to continue when a child is enrolled in college or vocational school, or when a child remains dependent due to a disability. Most support orders don’t automatically include post-secondary support; it must be specifically requested before the regular order terminates. Our Spokane child support attorneys can advise you on the timing and process for making that request.

Modifying a Child Support Order in Spokane

Life changes, and Washington law recognizes that an order entered years ago may no longer reflect current reality. Under RCW 26.09.170, a support order can be modified upon a showing of a substantial change of circumstances since it was entered. Common qualifying changes include a significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income, job loss, a change in the child’s residential schedule, a new medical diagnosis affecting the child’s needs, or the aging out of one child from a multi-child order.

A second pathway also exists: either parent may seek an adjustment every 24 months based on income changes without proving a substantial change of circumstances. Timing matters either way. Modifications aren’t retroactive; they apply from the date the petition is filed, not the date circumstances changed. Filing early is important. Informal agreements between parents to adjust the amount aren’t legally enforceable, and the existing obligation remains in full force until a court signs a new order.

Courts won’t accept voluntary unemployment or intentional underemployment as a qualifying change on its own. In those situations, a judge may impute income based on earning capacity. We handle child support modification proceedings in Spokane County Superior Court for both paying and receiving parents. Attorney Platt has focused exclusively on family law since 2006, and he knows how local courts evaluate modification petitions.

Child Support Enforcement in Spokane

When a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, Washington law provides several collection tools. The custodial parent can file a contempt petition, triggering a hearing at which the court calculates outstanding arrears and determines the appropriate enforcement method. Washington’s Division of Child Support can pursue wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and suspension of a parent’s driver’s license. Courts can also garnish unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, and other income sources. In cases of gross failure to pay, a court may order jail time until a portion of the arrears is satisfied.

Stopping payments unilaterally, even when circumstances have changed, can result in contempt. An existing obligation continues in full until a court formally modifies it. We represent both custodial parents seeking enforcement and non-custodial parents responding to enforcement actions, including contempt proceedings in Spokane County Superior Court.

Talk to a Spokane Child Support Attorney About Your Situation

Child support matters require careful, experienced legal handling. We focus exclusively on family law, have represented Spokane families since 2006, and offer a free 30-minute attorney consultation so you can get clear guidance before making any decisions. Attorney Benjamin D. Platt holds the AVVO Client’s Choice Award and Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, and his Guardian ad Litem training means he understands how courts evaluate the full family picture, not just the numbers on an income worksheet.

Whether you need to establish an order, request a modification, pursue enforcement, or respond to an action filed against you, our child support lawyers are ready to listen, advise, and advocate on your behalf.

Contact our Spokane child support attorneys today to schedule your free consultation at Law Office of Benjamin D. Platt.