Child Support

September 1, 2025

Child Support

Child support is money one parent pays the other to help cover the costs of raising a child. It's meant to ensure children have the financial support they need, even when parents don't live together.


Who pays child support?


There's isn't a straightforward answer to this question. Oregon uses an online child support calculator to estimate child support. 


This calculator will tell you:

  • Which parent should pay child support.
  • How much child support that parent should pay.


How is child support calculated in Oregon?


Oregon's online child support calculator considers: 

  • Both parents' incomes
  • How much time the child spends with each parent
  • Health insurance costs for the child and parents
  • Child care (daycare) expenses
  • Number of children each parent has
  • Spousal support payments
  • Union dues
  • Disability or veteran's benefits


Who can ask for child support?


  • Married parents who are separated or going through a divorce
  • Unmarried parents


How to get child support



What happens if child support is not paid?


If a parent doesn't pay child support, Oregon can take steps to collect it from them, such as:

  • Garnishing their wages
  • Taking money from their tax refunds
  • Suspending their driver's or professional licenses


Can child support be changed?


Yes, child support can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances. For example:

  • A parent's income changes
  • The parenting schedule changes
  • The child's health insurance or childcare expenses change

You can ask the Oregon Child Support Program to help you change child support, or you can do it on your own by modifying your court orders.


Where to get help


If you need help with child support, you have options:

  • Oregon Child Support Program: This program provides free services to help Oregon parents establish and collect child support. Visit the Oregon Child Support Program website to learn more.
  • Child support facilitator: Family court facilitators offer free assistance to people navigating family court cases in Oregon. They're not lawyers but can answer general questions and walk you through court processes. Oregon has a facilitator who specializes in child support questions. To get help, call 541-734-0951 or book your free appointment here.



Author: Oregon Law Help.org

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