Oregon Child Support Calculator
Uses the Income Shares model — ORS §25.275 combined adjusted gross income
Table of Contents
How Oregon Calculates Child Support
Oregon uses the Income Shares model to calculate child support, as codified in ORS §25.275. This model is based on the economic principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together. Both parents' incomes are combined to determine the total support obligation, and each parent pays a proportionate share based on their percentage of the combined income.
The Oregon child support calculation process involves several key steps. First, each parent's gross income is determined and converted to adjusted gross income by subtracting certain allowable deductions. The adjusted gross incomes are then combined, and a basic support obligation is determined from the Oregon child support schedule based on the combined income and the number of children. Each parent's share of the obligation is calculated proportionally, and adjustments are made for parenting time, health insurance, childcare costs, and other relevant factors.
Oregon updated its child support guidelines in 2022, bringing them into better alignment with updated economic data on the cost of raising children. The state's Division of Child Support (DCS) within the Oregon Department of Justice administers the child support program, which serves over 200,000 cases. Oregon collects approximately $500 million in child support annually, making it one of the most effective state child support programs in the nation.
Income Shares Model
Oregon uses the Income Shares model, combining both parents' adjusted gross incomes to determine the total child support obligation from a standardized schedule.
Parenting Time Credit
Parents with more than 24% of overnights (approximately 88 nights per year) receive a credit that reduces their child support obligation proportionally.
Statutory Authority
Oregon child support is governed by ORS §25.275 through ORS §25.290, with detailed administrative rules in OAR 137-050-0700 through OAR 137-050-0765.
Minimum Support
Oregon sets a minimum child support obligation of $100 per month per child, even when the calculated formula amount would be lower.
The Oregon Child Support Formula Explained
Oregon's child support formula follows the Income Shares methodology, which estimates the amount parents would have spent on their children if the family had remained intact. The calculation uses a schedule of basic support obligations based on combined adjusted gross income and the number of children.
Where BSO = Basic Support Obligation, NCP% = Non-Custodial Parent's Income Share, PTC = Parenting Time Credit
Step 1: Determine Adjusted Gross Income
Each parent's adjusted gross income is calculated by starting with all sources of gross income and subtracting allowable deductions. Gross income in Oregon includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, interest, pension and retirement benefits, Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, spousal support received, trust income, and capital gains. Deductions from gross income include federal and state income taxes, Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA), mandatory retirement contributions, union dues, support obligations for other children, and spousal support paid to a prior marriage.
Step 2: Combine Incomes and Find Basic Support Obligation
After determining each parent's adjusted gross income, the incomes are combined. The combined adjusted gross income is used to look up the Basic Support Obligation (BSO) in the Oregon child support schedule. This schedule provides the estimated cost of raising children at various income levels. The schedule ranges from combined monthly incomes of $800 to over $30,000, with specific amounts for one through six or more children.
Step 3: Calculate Each Parent's Share
Each parent's percentage share is determined by dividing their individual adjusted gross income by the combined adjusted gross income. For example, if Parent 1 earns $4,000 per month and Parent 2 earns $2,000 per month, Parent 1's share is 66.7% and Parent 2's share is 33.3%. The non-custodial parent's share of the BSO becomes the starting point for their child support obligation.
Step 4: Apply Parenting Time Credit
Oregon provides a parenting time credit for non-custodial parents who have the children for more than 24% of the year (approximately 88 overnights). The credit formula reduces the obligation based on the percentage of time spent with the child. At 25% parenting time, the credit is relatively small, but it increases substantially as parenting time approaches 50%. The credit recognizes that the non-custodial parent directly bears some of the child-rearing costs during their parenting time. At 50% parenting time (equal custody), the parent with higher income typically still pays some support to equalize the children's living standards.
Step 5: Allocate Additional Expenses
After calculating the base support obligation, Oregon adds each parent's proportional share of additional expenses including children's healthcare premiums, unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding $250 per child per year, and work-related childcare costs. These add-on expenses are divided between parents in proportion to their income shares.
Income Considered in Oregon Child Support
Oregon takes a broad view of income for child support purposes, seeking to capture the full financial resources available to each parent. Understanding what counts as income is crucial for both parents in a child support proceeding.
Types of Income Included
- Employment income: Wages, salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, overtime pay, severance pay, and stock options
- Self-employment income: Net earnings from a business, partnership, or sole proprietorship after legitimate business expenses
- Investment income: Dividends, interest, capital gains, rental income, and royalties
- Government benefits: Social Security benefits (including disability), unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, and veterans' benefits
- Retirement income: Pension payments, annuities, and distributions from retirement accounts
- Other income: Spousal support received, trust income, prizes and awards, and in-kind compensation
Income Exclusions and Adjustments
Certain types of income or benefits are excluded or adjusted in Oregon child support calculations:
- Means-tested benefits: SNAP (food stamps), TANF, SSI, and housing assistance are generally excluded
- New spouse income: A new spouse's income is generally not included in the calculation
- Child support received for other children: May be excluded from income calculations
- Overtime and secondary employment: May be excluded if the parent historically did not earn this income and started only to reduce the support calculation
Imputed Income
Oregon courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. If a parent has the ability to earn more but chooses not to, the court can attribute income to that parent based on their education, work history, health, age, and the local job market. This prevents parents from deliberately reducing their income to lower their child support obligation. The court considers the parent's recent work history, qualifications, and earning capacity when determining imputed income.
Oregon Parenting Time Credit
The parenting time credit is one of the most significant adjustments in Oregon's child support calculation. It recognizes that when a non-custodial parent spends substantial time with the children, they are directly bearing child-rearing expenses during that time, reducing the need for transferred child support payments.
How the Parenting Time Credit Works
The parenting time credit applies when the non-custodial parent has the children for more than 24% of the year, which equals approximately 88 overnights. Below this threshold, no parenting time credit is given because the standard child support schedule already accounts for typical visitation patterns. The credit calculation uses a sliding scale:
| Overnights Per Year | Parenting Time % | Credit Level | Effect on Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 87 | 0% – 23% | No credit | Standard calculation applies |
| 88 – 109 | 24% – 29% | Minimum credit | 5% – 10% reduction |
| 110 – 127 | 30% – 34% | Moderate credit | 10% – 20% reduction |
| 128 – 145 | 35% – 39% | Significant credit | 20% – 30% reduction |
| 146 – 164 | 40% – 44% | Substantial credit | 30% – 40% reduction |
| 165 – 182 | 45% – 50% | Maximum credit | 40% – 50% reduction |
Counting Overnights
Oregon counts actual overnights the child spends with each parent. An overnight is counted when the child sleeps at the parent's residence. If the parenting plan specifies a certain number of overnights but the actual practice differs, the court may use either figure. Consistent documentation of actual parenting time is important for both parents. School nights, weekends, holidays, and summer vacation all factor into the overnight count.
Equal Parenting Time Scenarios
When parents share equal parenting time (50/50), child support is not automatically zero. Instead, Oregon calculates each parent's obligation and offsets them. The parent with the higher income typically pays the difference between the two calculated obligations. This ensures that the children maintain a similar standard of living in both households, even when physical custody is exactly equal.
Deviations from Oregon Guidelines
Oregon law recognizes that the standard formula may not produce a fair result in every case. Under ORS §25.280, courts may deviate from the guideline amount when applying the formula would be unjust or inappropriate. Either parent can request a deviation, but the requesting party bears the burden of demonstrating why the guidelines produce an unfair result.
Common Reasons for Deviation
- Extraordinary medical expenses: When a child has special medical needs that significantly exceed what the guidelines anticipate
- Educational expenses: Private school tuition, tutoring, or special educational needs not accounted for in the standard formula
- Travel expenses: When parents live far apart and significant travel costs are required for parenting time
- Income disparity: When combined income is very high and the guideline amount exceeds the actual needs of the children
- Special needs: Children with disabilities or exceptional talents requiring additional financial support
- Financial hardship: When the obligor parent faces extreme financial circumstances such as extraordinary debt or medical expenses
- Other children: When a parent has other biological or adopted children to support who are not part of the current case
Deviation Limits
While Oregon courts have discretion to deviate from the guidelines, they must make specific written findings explaining why the deviation is appropriate and how the ordered amount serves the best interests of the child. Deviations cannot reduce support below the minimum amount of $100 per month per child unless exceptional circumstances exist, such as incarceration or extreme disability of the obligor parent.
How to Modify Child Support in Oregon
Oregon allows modification of child support orders when circumstances change significantly. The modification process ensures that child support amounts remain fair and appropriate as parents' financial situations evolve over time.
Grounds for Modification
You may request a modification of your Oregon child support order if:
- Either parent's income has changed by more than 15% since the last order
- There has been a change in parenting time or custody arrangements
- The number of children requiring support has changed (e.g., a child has emancipated)
- Health insurance costs or availability have changed significantly
- Childcare expenses have substantially increased or decreased
- The child support guidelines themselves have been updated
- A parent has become disabled or has a serious medical condition
- It has been three or more years since the last review
The Modification Process
There are two ways to request a modification in Oregon. You can contact the Oregon Division of Child Support (DCS) to request an administrative review, or you can file a motion to modify with the circuit court that issued the original order. The DCS review process is generally faster and less expensive, but court modification may be necessary for complex cases. Modifications are effective from the date of filing, not retroactively. This means past-due amounts cannot be reduced through modification.
Automatic Reviews
Oregon offers automatic reviews of child support orders every three years for cases managed by the DCS. Either parent can request a review, and the DCS will compare the existing order to what the current guidelines would produce. If the difference is significant (more than 15%), the DCS may initiate a modification proceeding.
Child Support Enforcement in Oregon
Oregon has robust child support enforcement mechanisms to ensure that ordered support is paid. The Oregon Division of Child Support works in partnership with the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement to collect payments and enforce orders.
Enforcement Tools Available
- Income withholding: Oregon requires automatic income withholding for all child support orders. Employers are legally required to deduct child support from the obligor's paycheck
- Tax refund intercept: Both federal and state tax refunds can be intercepted to pay past-due child support
- License suspension: Oregon can suspend driver's licenses, professional licenses, and recreational licenses for non-payment
- Credit reporting: Delinquent child support is reported to credit bureaus, affecting the obligor's credit score
- Bank account levy: The state can seize funds from bank accounts to satisfy past-due obligations
- Liens on property: Oregon can place liens on real estate, vehicles, and other property
- Passport denial: The federal government can deny or revoke a passport for individuals owing more than $2,500 in arrears
- Contempt of court: Willful non-payment can result in a finding of contempt, which may lead to fines or incarceration
Interstate Enforcement
Oregon participates in the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), which allows enforcement of child support orders across state lines. If the obligor parent moves to another state, Oregon can work with that state to enforce the existing order without requiring the custodial parent to file a new case in the other state.
Oregon Child Support Schedule (2025)
The Oregon child support schedule establishes the basic support obligation based on the parents' combined adjusted gross income and the number of children. Below is a representative sample of the schedule amounts. The actual schedule used by Oregon courts contains more detailed income increments.
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children | 5 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $216 | $324 | $389 | $432 | $476 |
| $2,000 | $374 | $567 | $680 | $755 | $832 |
| $3,000 | $503 | $763 | $915 | $1,016 | $1,119 |
| $4,000 | $623 | $946 | $1,135 | $1,260 | $1,389 |
| $5,000 | $735 | $1,115 | $1,338 | $1,486 | $1,637 |
| $6,000 | $836 | $1,269 | $1,523 | $1,691 | $1,863 |
| $8,000 | $1,006 | $1,527 | $1,832 | $2,035 | $2,243 |
| $10,000 | $1,146 | $1,739 | $2,087 | $2,318 | $2,554 |
| $15,000 | $1,423 | $2,159 | $2,591 | $2,877 | $3,170 |
| $20,000 | $1,638 | $2,487 | $2,984 | $3,314 | $3,651 |
| $25,000 | $1,820 | $2,763 | $3,315 | $3,682 | $4,057 |
| $30,000 | $1,976 | $2,999 | $3,599 | $3,997 | $4,404 |
Note: This table shows approximate guideline amounts. The actual Oregon schedule contains additional income increments and may be updated periodically. Consult the Oregon Division of Child Support for the most current schedule.