How Child Support Is Calculated in Hawaii

Child support is set under the Hawaii Child Support Guidelines (2024, effective April 1, 2024), which the court uses in every case. The guidelines are based on each parent's net income and make sure each parent keeps enough for basic needs, the child's basic needs (including child care and health insurance) are met first, and the child shares in any additional income through a Standard of Living Adjustment. A separate extensive time-sharing calculation applies when a parent has more than 143 overnights a year. The Judiciary offers a fully automated worksheet.

The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), part of the Department of the Attorney General, opens a case based on an Application for Services (from either the custodial or noncustodial parent) or a public-assistance referral. Applicants who have never received TANF are charged an annual $35 fee for each federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30) in which at least $500 in support is collected and paid to them.

Support is ordered for minor children, and the court may also order support for an adult child or an incompetent adult child, before or after the child reaches the age of majority (18). Under the 2024 Hawaii Child Support Guidelines, support past majority is meant to help an unmarried adult child get educated or trained: it may be ordered for an adult child enrolled full time (or accepted and planning to attend full time) in an accredited school, college, university, or vocational or trade school, and it generally ends before or at age 23, decided case by case. Before the child's 19th birthday, the agency sends notice that support will be suspended unless proof of full-time enrollment is provided. Support for an incompetent or disabled adult child can also be ordered.

A material change of circumstances is presumed if support calculated under the current guidelines is at least 10% higher or lower than the existing order; adoption of new or changed guidelines may also justify a review. Either parent may ask the family court or CSEA for a review and adjustment once every three years without showing any change in circumstances, and more often with proof of a substantial or material change. A request to CSEA must be in writing, state the reason, and (unless the person receives TANF) be made by someone who has completed an application for CSEA services.

Most enforcement is started automatically by the state's child support computer system; the custodial parent does not need to ask. CSEA's tools include mandatory income withholding, state tax refund setoff, federal tax refund offset, administrative offset of certain federal payments, passport denial (debts over $2,500), Financial Institution Data Match (bank accounts), credit bureau reporting, liens, license suspension and medical support enforcement.

The Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), a division of the Department of the Attorney General, provides locate, paternity, order processing, enforcement and interstate services. Parents can view their account through the Account Information System ("My Account") at ag-csea.hawaii.gov or the free CSEA Hawaii mobile app, book in-person appointments online, and find payment options on CSEA's Child Support Payment Options page. Call center (IVR): (808) 207-9915; out-of-state toll-free (888) 314-0037.

The Hawaii State Judiciary publishes the 2024 Hawaii Child Support Guidelines (effective April 1, 2024), which the Family Court, the Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Office of Child Support Hearings must use in all child support cases. Support is computed with the 2024 Child Support Guidelines Excel Worksheets, which calculate automatically, or with printable worksheets: Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Appendix A-1), Extensive Time-Sharing Worksheet (A-2), Exceptional Circumstances Form (A-3), Non-Taxable & Net Self-Employed Income Worksheet (A-4), Self-Employed Calculation Worksheet (A-5) and Table of Incomes (Appendix B). For help with the worksheets, go to the Self-Help Center on your island.