Child Support Lawyer Serving Greater Philadelphia

Q: Can a mother cancel child support in PA?

Child support belongs to the child, not the parent, so a custodial parent generally cannot simply waive or cancel a court-ordered obligation on their own. A parent can ask the Domestic Relations Section or the court to close or terminate a case, but a judge decides whether termination is appropriate. This applies equally to mothers and fathers.

Q: How do I file for child support in PA?

You file a Complaint for Support with your county Domestic Relations Section, either online through the Pennsylvania Child Support Website (childsupport.state.pa.us) or by mailing a paper packet. The DRS conducts an intake interview and schedules a support conference to set the amount. A filing fee applies, and you will need the other parent's identifying information. (Fee amounts are set by statute and can vary by county.)

A child support lawyer helps a parent establish, calculate, modify, or enforce a court-ordered support obligation. In Pennsylvania, child support is set under the Income Shares model (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1), which uses both parents’ combined monthly net income and the number of children to determine the amount. The Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner, P.C. guides parents in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties through every step.

If you are searching for a lawyer for child support, you are likely facing one of three situations: you need a support order put in place, the existing amount no longer fits your circumstances, or the other parent has stopped paying. Each of these has a defined legal path in Pennsylvania, and our family-law attorneys handle all of them. Call (215) 942-2100 to talk through where you stand.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania uses the Income Shares model, set out in the support guidelines at Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 et seq. The idea is straightforward: the law estimates what both parents together would have spent on the children if the family had stayed intact, then divides that obligation between the parents in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined monthly net income.

In practice, the calculation works like this:

Determine each parent’s monthly net income under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-2 (income minus allowable deductions such as taxes and certain mandatory contributions).
Combine both incomes and match the total against the Basic Child Support Schedule (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-3) for the number of children.
Allocate the total obligation between the parents by percentage of income. If one parent earns 60% of the combined net income, that parent is presumptively responsible for roughly 60% of the basic obligation.
Add allowable expenses under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-6, which can include the children’s health insurance premiums, work-related child care, and unreimbursed medical expenses. (Corrected: under Rule 1910.16-6, the parent receiving support absorbs the first $250 per child, per year in unreimbursed medical expenses; amounts above that annual $250-per-child threshold are then allocated between the parents in proportion to income.)

The guideline amount is a rebuttable presumption — it is the starting point, but a court can deviate based on the factors in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-5. Custody time can also affect the number, particularly in shared-custody situations (the substantial- and shared-custody adjustments under Rule 1910.16-4). A child support lawyer makes sure the income figures and expense credits are accurate, because small input errors compound into large differences over the life of an order.

The Pennsylvania child support program offers a free online Child Support Estimator for a rough guideline figure. (Corrected: the published Basic Child Support Schedule and the standard guideline formula apply to a combined monthly net income of up to $30,000. Above $30,000/month, the high-income formula in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-3.1 applies, and the basic estimator is not designed for those cases.) The estimator itself states it is only an estimate and that other factors may affect the amount — it is not a substitute for legal advice on deductions, deviations, and additional expenses.

When You Need a Lawyer for Child Support

You do not strictly need an attorney to open a support case — but a child support lawyer is valuable when:

Income is disputed or hidden. Self-employment, cash income, bonuses, or a parent who is voluntarily underemployed can all complicate the net-income calculation (and may support an earning-capacity argument).
You share custody. Overnight schedules can change the math, and the substantial- or shared-custody adjustments require careful application.
There are add-on expenses. Health insurance, daycare, private school, or special-needs costs are not always handled correctly without representation.
The other side has a lawyer. Walking into a support conference unrepresented against an experienced attorney puts you at a disadvantage.

Our attorneys also coordinate child support with related matters — your child custody arrangements and, where relevant, alimony and spousal support — so the full financial picture is consistent.

Filing for Child Support: The Domestic Relations Process

In Pennsylvania, child support is handled through your county Domestic Relations Section (DRS). The general process:

File a Complaint for Support — online through the Pennsylvania Child Support Website (childsupport.state.pa.us), or by submitting a paper Complaint for Support packet to your county DRS. (Corrected: contrary to the prior draft, filing is generally not free. A complaint for support carries a filing fee, and once an order is entered the defendant is charged an annual administrative service fee. Fee amounts are set by statute and can vary by county — confirm current Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia DRS fee schedules before quoting any number to a client.)
Intake interview with the DRS to gather income and case information.
Support conference, where a conference officer reviews both parents’ financials and proposes a guideline-based amount.
Order entered — and if either party disagrees, the matter can proceed to a hearing before a hearing officer and, if necessary, a judge.

You will generally need the other parent’s identifying and address information for the case to move forward. Our firm prepares your financial documentation, represents you at the conference and any hearing, and pushes back on inaccurate income claims.

Child Support Lawyer in Philadelphia and the Surrounding Counties

The Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner, P.C. serves clients across Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, with offices in Feasterville, Doylestown, Norristown, and Philadelphia. As a child support lawyer in Philadelphia and the suburbs, we appear before the local Domestic Relations Sections regularly and understand how each county handles conferences, paperwork, and enforcement.

Whether you are the parent who will pay support or the parent who will receive it, our role is the same: make sure the order reflects the correct income, the correct custody schedule, and the law. To learn more about our team, meet attorney Michael Kuldiner.

Modifying and Enforcing a Support Order

Modification. A support order can be changed when there is a material and substantial change in circumstances under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.19 — for example, a significant change in either parent’s income, a change in custody, or a change in the children’s needs. The order does not adjust automatically; a parent must file a petition to modify. Until a new order is entered, the existing amount remains in effect and the Pennsylvania State Collection and Disbursement Unit (PA SCDU) continues to collect it.

Enforcement. When a parent stops paying, Pennsylvania’s enforcement tools are significant. They can include income withholding / wage attachment (23 Pa.C.S. § 4348), interception of state and federal tax refunds and lottery winnings, suspension of a driver’s, professional, or recreational license (23 Pa.C.S. § 4355), seizure of bank accounts and other financial assets, liens, credit-bureau reporting, and civil contempt proceedings (23 Pa.C.S. § 4345) that, on a finding of willful noncompliance, can carry fines or jail. A child support lawyer can file for enforcement, or defend you if you have fallen behind for reasons outside your control.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania uses the Income Shares model under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1. The court combines both parents’ monthly net incomes, matches that total to the Basic Child Support Schedule for the number of children, and divides the obligation in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined income. Custody time and add-on expenses like health insurance and child care can adjust the final amount.

How much is child support for 1 kid in PA?

There is no single flat figure — the amount depends on both parents’ combined net income and the custody arrangement, applied to the state guideline schedule. Two parents with higher combined income will generally owe more than two parents with lower income for the same one child. The most reliable way to know your number is to run your actual figures with an attorney or with the state’s free Child Support Estimator. (No fixed dollar amount stated, by design.)

When does child support end in PA?

In Pennsylvania, child support generally ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later (23 Pa.C.S. § 4321). If the child is still in high school at 18, support continues until graduation or until the child turns 19, whichever comes first. There is no automatic obligation to pay for college in Pennsylvania. Support does not stop on its own — the paying parent typically must seek termination through the Domestic Relations Section, and support can continue for an adult child who is not self-supporting because of a physical or mental condition that began before age 18 (23 Pa.C.S. § 4321(3)).

What does child support cover in PA?

Child support is intended to cover a child’s basic needs — food, housing, clothing, and everyday expenses. Beyond the basic guideline amount, Pennsylvania allows additional expenses to be shared under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-6, including the children’s health insurance premiums, work-related child care, and unreimbursed medical expenses above $250 per child per year. Private-school tuition, summer camp, and extracurricular or developmental activities can also be allocated if the court finds the expense reasonable under the parties’ circumstances.

Can a mother cancel child support in PA?

Child support belongs to the child, not the parent, so a custodial parent generally cannot simply waive or cancel a court-ordered obligation on their own. A parent can ask the Domestic Relations Section or the court to close or terminate a case, but a judge decides whether termination is appropriate. This applies equally to mothers and fathers.

How do I file for child support in PA?

You file a Complaint for Support with your county Domestic Relations Section, either online through the Pennsylvania Child Support Website (childsupport.state.pa.us) or by mailing a paper packet. The DRS conducts an intake interview and schedules a support conference to set the amount. A filing fee applies, and you will need the other parent’s identifying information. (Fee amounts are set by statute and can vary by county.)

Can child support be modified in PA?

Yes. Under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.19, either parent can petition to modify a support order by showing a material and substantial change in circumstances — such as a meaningful change in income, custody, or the children’s needs. The change is not automatic; you must file, and the existing order stays in effect until a new one is entered.

What happens if a parent does not pay child support in PA?

Unpaid support is enforced through the county Domestic Relations Section and PA SCDU. Enforcement can include income withholding, tax-refund and lottery interception, bank-account seizure, license suspension, liens, credit reporting, and contempt proceedings that, on a finding of willful nonpayment, may result in fines or jail. A parent who has genuinely fallen behind should seek legal help promptly rather than ignore the order.

Talk to a Child Support Lawyer Today

Whether you need to establish support, change an order that no longer fits your life, or enforce one the other parent is ignoring, the Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner, P.C. can help you understand your options under Pennsylvania law. Call (215) 942-2100 or schedule a consultation at our Feasterville, Doylestown, Norristown, or Philadelphia office.

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Please consult a licensed Pennsylvania attorney about your specific situation.