How Child Support Is Calculated in Oregon

Oregon's child support guidelines use the parents' combined adjusted income: the basic support amount comes from a scale based on combined income and the number of joint children, and each parent pays their percentage share of income (an income shares approach), limited by a self-support reserve. Child care and health coverage are added, and a parenting time credit may apply. The Oregon Department of Justice Child Support Program provides an online guidelines calculator that gives an estimate only.

The Oregon Child Support Program (Oregon Department of Justice, Division of Child Support) asks applicants to first set up an online account on its customer portal and then complete the application for services. The application can also be mailed to Oregon Child Support Program, PO Box 14680, Salem, OR 97309, or taken to a local child support office. There is a one-time $1 fee, which is deducted from the first money collected.

In Oregon a person reaches majority at 18. A support order may also require either or both parents to support a "child attending school": an unmarried child who is 18 or older and under 21, is making satisfactory academic progress, and carries at least half of a full-time course load. School includes high school, community college, a four-year college or university, vocational or technical training (including Job Corps), and high school equivalency programs such as GED or home schooling. A child attending school is a party to the support case and may apply for child support services.

Either parent can ask the Child Support Program to review an order once at least 35 months have passed since it took effect, or earlier by showing a significant change of circumstances since support was last calculated (for example a change in physical custody, the child's needs, the number of children, or either parent's income). Requests are made with the program's Request for Review – Modification or Termination packet; if the parents disagree on the new amount, an administrative law judge decides. By statute, after three years (or a shorter cycle set by Department of Justice rule) the order must be brought into substantial compliance with the guidelines formula without proof of a change in circumstances. Either party can also file a motion with the court to modify support in a divorce judgment, with service on the other party and notice to the Division of Child Support when required.

Support is usually paid through income withholding. If support is not paid, the Oregon Child Support Program's actions may include taking federal or state tax refunds and other federal payments; filing a lien against property in Oregon; garnishing lottery winnings, insurance settlements, inheritances and bank accounts (unless support is already being withheld); suspending recreational, driver's and occupational licenses; passport denial; reporting parents who owe a certain amount to credit reporting agencies; and bringing a contempt of court action, in which a circuit court judge may impose a jail sentence.

Oregon's child support agency is the Oregon Child Support Program, run by the Oregon Department of Justice. It helps parents enroll for services, establishes orders and parentage, locates parents, modifies orders, handles medical support, support for students ages 18 to 21 and interstate cases, and collects and distributes payments. Enroll through the program's "Enroll for Child Support Services" page or contact a local office. Payments can be made by debit or credit card, check, money order or cashier's check, electronic check, cash or automatic withdrawal, including online through the Pay Now link. Online accounts let parents view case and payment status and message their case manager. Customer Service: 800-850-0228.

The Oregon Department of Justice Child Support Program's Child Support Calculator helps parents estimate their monthly child support obligation under the Oregon Child Support Guidelines, which are used in all child support cases. The calculator provides an estimate and is not a guarantee of the amount that will be ordered; the administrator, administrative law judge or court has the final authority to set the amount. Parenting time is factored in (a Parenting Time Calculator is available), and an Excel guidelines workbook is offered for expert users.