How Child Support Is Calculated in Alaska

Alaska uses a percentage-of-income model set out in Civil Rule 90.3. In primary custody cases, the non-custodial parent's adjusted income is multiplied by 20% for one child, 27% for two, 33% for three, and an extra 3% for each additional child. Separate formulas apply for shared custody (each parent has at least 110 overnights a year), divided and hybrid custody. The minimum order is generally $50 per month. The Child Support Services Division offers an online estimate calculator for primary custody cases.

The state agency is the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) of the Alaska Department of Revenue (formerly called the Child Support Services Division). The Alaska Court System's self-help center says to go to the CSED Client Portal to learn about services and file an application. A federally required $35 annual fee is taken from support payments on cases where the family has never received cash assistance and the parent receiving support got $550 or more during the federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30).

The age of majority in Alaska is 18. A court can also order support for an unmarried 18-year-old child who is actively pursuing a high school diploma (or an equivalent level of technical or vocational training) and living as a dependent with a parent, guardian or the parent's designee.

A final child support order can be changed on a showing of a material change of circumstances. A material change is presumed if support calculated under the guidelines is more than 15% higher or lower than the current order; a change in the parenting plan between primary and shared custody can also qualify. Support cannot be lowered retroactively; a change can take effect from the date the motion (or CSED's notice of petition) is served. To ask the court, file a Motion to Modify packet (SHC-PAC12 or DR-700); the filing fee is $75, and if CSED collects the support you must also serve the Attorney General's Office. CSED can also review an order on request, not more than once every three years, and can modify orders it issued.

CSED says it sends withholding orders for wages and property, can take all or part of a parent's Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend when support is past due, can ask the federal government to send it a parent's federal tax refund, can place liens on property (including on payments to a self-employed parent's business), and can revoke state occupational and driver's licenses. Past-due support also carries interest. All support orders must contain an income withholding order.

The Alaska Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) is the state child support agency; its mission is to collect and disburse child support payments. Parents use the CSED Client Portal to view case information and make payments (myAlaska is no longer used for child support), and employers use the Business Portal. CSED Customer Service: 907-269-6900; Employer Hotline: 907-269-6089.

Alaska child support is set under Civil Rule 90.3 using each parent's income, the number of children, overnights with each parent and the custody type. The Alaska Court System Self-Help Center lists the forms: Child Support Guidelines Affidavit (DR-305, needed in all cases), plus DR-306 (shared custody), DR-307 (divided custody) and DR-308 (hybrid custody) calculation forms. The Child Support Services Division (CSSD/CSED) also offers an online calculator that estimates support for primary custody only; the court page notes that neither the court nor CSED is bound by the calculator's results, and other factors can change the amount.