Both parents have a legal obligation to support their children. When parents are divorced or were never married, that obligation is formalized through a child support order — and in Utah, those orders are calculated using the Utah child support guidelines.
The guidelines take into account parental income, the number of overnight stays a child has with each parent, the number of children covered by the order, health insurance costs, healthcare expenses, and childcare costs. Their goal is to ensure children are adequately supported while keeping obligations fair to both parents.
To keep pace with economic and legal changes, the Utah Child Support Advisory Committee reviews the guidelines every four years. The most recent update took effect on January 1, 2023, and applies to new orders entered on or after that date, as well as certain modified orders.
What the 2023 Utah Child Support Guidelines Changed
The updated guidelines are codified in Utah Code 81-6-304 and 305. Here is what changed — and what it may mean for your family.
Higher Threshold for the Low-Income Table
The low-income table provides an alternative way to calculate child support when parents’ income falls below a certain level. Before the update, that threshold was $900 per month. Under the new guidelines, it is $1,951 per month. This means more Utah families now qualify to use the low-income table, and parents with limited income are less likely to face support obligations they genuinely cannot afford.
Adjusted Payment Schedules for Variable Income
Many parents do not receive a steady paycheck. Seasonal workers, commissioned employees, and self-employed individuals often see significant income fluctuations from month to month. The updated guidelines allow for adjusted payment schedules that better align the timing and amount of child support with the paying parent’s actual income. If this arrangement could work better for your situation, you must request it — it is not applied automatically.
Clearer Rules for Split and Shared Parenting
In split parenting arrangements, each parent has primary physical custody of one or more children. In shared parenting (joint custody), parents share custody of the same children. The revised guidelines provide greater clarity about how each of these arrangements affects each parent’s financial responsibility, better reflecting the actual time children spend in each household.
Older Orders Are Being Brought Into Alignment
Child support orders that predated January 1, 2023 were not immediately converted to the new guidelines. Beginning January 1, 2025, existing orders have been gradually reviewed and updated to align with the 2023 guidelines. If you have concerns about how recent changes may affect your current child support order, consulting with an attorney is the most direct way to get clarity.
When Should You Consider Modifying Child Support?
Child support orders are not permanent. Utah law allows modification when there has been a material change in circumstances. Common reasons to request a modification include:
- A significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income
- A meaningful change in the custody arrangement — particularly the number of overnights each parent has
- Unexpected increases in medical or childcare expenses that have created a disproportionate burden on one parent
- Income fluctuations that make an adjusted payment schedule appropriate
If you believe a modification is warranted, the first step is gathering documentation: pay stubs, tax returns, medical or childcare bills, and records of overnight parenting time. A child support attorney can help you evaluate whether you have grounds and walk you through the modification process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Utah child support calculator?
Utah uses an income shares model. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are entered into a worksheet along with the number of children, parenting time overnights, and certain additional expenses. The result is the presumptive child support obligation. The state provides a child support estimator online through the Office of Recovery Services (ORS) at ors.utah.gov.
Do the 2023 guidelines apply to my existing child support order?
Orders entered before January 1, 2023 were not automatically updated. Beginning January 1, 2025, older orders are being reviewed and brought into alignment with the new guidelines. If your order predates 2023, it may be subject to review. Consult with an attorney to understand how this may affect your specific order.
Can child support be higher or lower than the guideline amount?
Yes, in limited circumstances. Courts can deviate from the guidelines when applying them would be unjust or not in the best interest of the child. Downward deviations are rare; upward deviations occur more often, particularly when a child has exceptional financial needs.
What counts as income for child support purposes in Utah?
Income includes wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, rental income, retirement benefits, and other regular sources of income. Sporadic or unpredictable income, such as annual bonuses, is also factored in — often based on an average over time.
What if the paying parent refuses to pay or stops paying child support?
If a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, the Office of Recovery Services can intervene. Enforcement tools include wage garnishment, tax refund interception, credit bureau reporting, property liens, and license suspension. A parent who willfully refuses to pay may also be held in contempt of court.
Can parents agree to a different child support amount?
Parents can agree to pay more than the guideline amount. They cannot agree to pay less — child support belongs to the child and cannot be negotiated away by the parents.
Contact Ashley Wood Law
If you have questions about Utah child support — whether you are establishing a new order, seeking a modification, or trying to understand how recent guideline changes affect you — Ashley Wood Law is here to help. Based in Salt Lake City, Ashley Wood Law, P.C. provides knowledgeable, client-focused counsel on child support and family law matters throughout Utah. Call (801) 459-3499 or contact us online at contact@ashleywoodlaw.com to schedule a consultation with an experienced Utah child support attorney.