Guidelines For Child Support In Pennsylvania

State of Pennsyvania, Jul 26, 2006

The Support Guidelines are in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 1910.16-1 through 1910.16-7.  The Pennsylvania Support Guidelines:

• Promote consistency of support awards in similar cases
• Treat each child equitably so that all children belonging to the same parent receive equal support and treatment
• Place primary emphasis on the net incomes and earning capacities of the parents with allowable deviations for unusual needs, extraordinary expenses, and other factors that warrant special attention
• Require a written or recorded finding that specifies the guideline amount and the amount of, and reasons for, any deviation if the guideline amount of support is not ordered
• Incorporate a Self-Support Reserve to make sure that low-income, noncustodial parents retain sufficient income to meet their basic needs and to maintain the incentive to continue work
• Provide for proportionate sharing of child-care costs based on the parents' net incomes so that expenses are divided in the same manner as other expenses that are typically added to the basic support obligation
• Are reviewed and updated every four years to consider changing economic, social and legal conditions