General
Court Rule Citation: Pa. R. Civ. Pro. 1910.16-1 to -5
Last Updated:
Guidelines Authority: Court Rule
Guidelines Model: Income Shares
Economic Study: Betson-Rothbarth 2006
Guidelines Responsibility: Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Guidelines Approval: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Last Guidelines Review (2016)
Previous Guidelines Review (2012)
Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) Schedule
Last Updated:
Income Base: Net Income
Income Measure: Combined Adjusted Net Income
Frequency:
Children Categories: 1 child, 2 children, 3 children, 4 children, 5 children, 6 children
Minimum Income Bracket: $1,000
Maximum Income Bracket: $30,000
More than Maximum Income:
BCSO Factors/Assumptions/Adjustments
Age: No
Cost of living: Updated to reflect New Jersey’s higher cost of living as measured by CPI-U
Expenditures Measurement:
Low-Income: Yes
Medical Expenses: No
Parenting Time: schedule assumes that the obligor has 30% parenting time
Poverty Level: 2012
Price Level: September 2015
Subsequent Children: Deviation factor
Taxes: No
Low-Income1
SSR/LI Adjustment Amt: $931/month based on 2012 FPL/One person
Discretionary: No
SSR/LI Adjustment Application: Built into schedule and adjusts obligator’s income so it will not fall below $931/month
Deviation Criteria: N/A
Threshold Income: N/A
Limitations: If obligator’s monthly net income is $931, Court may order support only after considering actual resources and living expenses
Minimum Child Support Amount: Yes
Limitations on Minimum Child Support Amount: N/A
Notes: SSR based on FPL for one person must be revised each year to reflect annual updated FPL
Deviation Factors
1. Agreement between parties
2. Assets of the parties
3. Best interest of the child(ren)
4. Other support obligations of the children
5. Other relevant and appropriate factors
6. Education Expenses
Medical Expenses
Ordinary:
Extraordinary:
Childcare Expenses
Added to Basic Child Support Obligation
Education Expenses
Deviation Factor
Modification
Material and substantial change
Termination5
Age of Majority: 18 years of age
Ends: Age of Majority or high school graduation, whichever occurs later unless emancipated
Statute: Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 23, §4321(2)
College Support beyond Age of Majority: Parents may be responsible past 18 if they are not self-supporting due to physical or mental condition
Criminal Penalties for Nonpayment3
Source: Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 23, § 4354, Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18, § 1101, Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18, § 1104, Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18, § 1105
Crime: Summary offense; Misdemeanor of the third degree if a second or subsequent offense or 12 months in support is owed
Maximum Penalty:90 days; $300 1 year, $2,500
Interest and Arrears4
Arrears: No
Summary:
Statute:
License Restrictions for failing to pay Child Support2
Citation: 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4355
Type: Driver’s, Occupational, Professional, Recreational
Threshold: Three or more months
Reinstatement: Obligator has 30 days after notice to pay, create periodic payment schedule, or excused from failing to comply
State Contact
Name: Mr. Robert Patrick
Title: Director of Child Support Enforcement
Email:
Phone Number: (800) 932-0211
Address: PO Box 8018, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105
Links
Child Support Calculator
Child Support Guidelines
FindLaw
References
1Judicial Council of California, Review of Statewide Uniform Child Support Guideline, October 25, 2017
2https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/license-restrictions-for-failure-to-pay-child-support.aspx
3https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/criminal-nonsupport-and-child-support.aspx
4https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/interest-on-child-support-arrears.aspx
5https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/termination-of-child-support-age-of-majority.aspx