Child Support in Oregon
Child support is money one parent pays the other to help cover the costs of raising a child. It's meant to ensure children have the financial support they need, even when parents don't live together.
Who pays child support?
The parent who does not have primary custody of the child usually pays child support. This parent is often called the "non-custodial parent." The parent with primary custody of the child is the "custodial parent."
Who can ask for child support?
- Married parents who are separated or going through a divorce
- Unmarried parents
How is child support calculated in Oregon?
Oregon uses a formula to calculate child support. The formula considers:
- Both parents' incomes
- How much time the child spends with each parent
- Health insurance costs for the child
- Child care (daycare) expenses
The Oregon Child Support Program has an online child support calculator that you can use to estimate the amount of child support. You can find the calculator here.
How to get child support
- Oregon Child Support Program: The easiest way to get child support is through the Oregon Child Support Program. The CSP can help you sort out paternity issues and get a child support order. Learn how to enroll in child support services on the CSP website.
- Court case: You can also get child support through a divorce or custody case. Learn more about filing for divorce here or visit this page to learn more about custody in Oregon.
What happens if child support is not paid?
If a parent doesn't pay child support, Oregon can take steps to collect it from them, such as:
- Garnishing their wages
- Taking money from their tax refunds
- Suspending their driver's or professional licenses
Can child support be changed?
Yes, child support can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances. For example:
- A parent's income changes
- The parenting schedule changes
- The child's health insurance or childcare expenses change
You can ask the Oregon Child Support Program to help you change child support, or you can do it on your own by modifying your court orders.
Where to get help
If you need help with child support, you have options:
- Oregon Child Support Program: This program provides free services to help Oregon parents establish and collect child support. Visit the Oregon Child Support Program website to learn more.
- Family law facilitators: Facilitators at Oregon courthouses can help with court forms and questions. Learn more about facilitators here.
More Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support
Yes. It’s a good idea to have a child support order. Things could change. If you only have a promise or private agreement, that’s not enough for the court to help you get the other parent to pay.
Not necessarily. The child support rules assume that all parents can work. If you aren’t working, a judge or the Oregon Child Support Program can assume that you make minimum wage income when they calculate support.
- If you ask for child support through the Oregon Child Support Program (CSP), you can tell your CSP caseworker to keep your information private. You don’t have to talk to the other parent to get child support through the CSP. The CSP can handle all the paperwork for you. Child support payments will go through the CSP.
- If you ask for child support in a divorce or custody case, you don’t have to use your personal address or phone number on your court paperwork. You can use a PO Box or another safe contact address. This could be a friend or family member’s address. After you get a child support order, the CSP can help you get child support so you don't have to talk to the other parent.
Yes. But it may take longer.
Maybe. The Oregon Child Support Program can try to help you find the other parent. If they can find the other parent, they will try to help you get child support from that parent. For more information on locating a parent and how to help the CSP find a parent, go here.