Salt Lake City Child
Support Attorney
Child support in Utah is a formula, and most of the fighting happens
over the numbers that go into it. Which income counts, how many
overnights each parent actually has, whether a parent is voluntarily
underemployed, and who pays for insurance and daycare can move the
result by hundreds of dollars a month for years. CoilLaw represents
parents on both sides of child support cases throughout Salt Lake County
and Utah County: establishing support in a divorce or paternity case,
modifying it when circumstances change, and enforcing or defending
arrears. Here is how Utah child support works under Title 81, Chapter 6
of the Utah Code.
How Utah calculates child
support
Utah uses an income shares model. The guidelines combine both
parents’ gross monthly incomes, look up the amount the guidelines say
parents at that combined income spend on that number of children, and
divide that obligation between the parents in proportion to their
incomes. The result is a presumptive amount that a court will order
unless a parent shows it would be unjust in the specific case.
Three worksheets exist. The sole custody worksheet applies when one
parent has the children for fewer than 111 overnights a year. The joint
custody worksheet applies when each parent has at least 111 overnights,
and it reduces the paying parent’s obligation as overnights increase.
The split custody worksheet applies when each parent has sole custody of
at least one child. Getting the overnight count right is often the
single largest factor in the outcome, which is why custody and support
are negotiated together.
What counts as income
Gross income from any source: wages, salary, commissions, bonuses,
self-employment income after legitimate business expenses, rental
income, pensions, disability, and unemployment benefits. Income is
generally based on one full-time job; overtime and a second job can be
excluded beyond a 40-hour week unless they are a consistent pattern.
If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court
imputes income based on employment potential and probable earnings,
considering work history, education, health, and local job availability.
A parent with no recent work history is generally imputed at federal
minimum wage for a 40-hour week. Quitting a job to lower support does
not work; see our article on why every route to avoiding child support
fails.
Medical, childcare, and
other add-ons
Base support is not the whole order. The children’s health insurance
premiums and work-related childcare costs are shared between the parents
in proportion to income, and uninsured medical expenses are typically
split equally. These add-ons are ordered separately and can be enforced
separately.
When child support ends
Support for each child ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from
high school in the normal course, whichever is later, and it ends
automatically for that child without a court filing. Support can be
extended for an adult child with a disability. It does not end because
the other parent denies parent-time; support and parent-time are
separate obligations and each has its own remedy.
Modifying child support
Under Utah Code 81-6-212, a support order can be modified when
circumstances have changed. If the order is at least three years old, a
parent can ask for an adjustment when the guidelines would produce an
amount at least 10 percent different from the current order and the
difference is not temporary. If the order is less than three years old,
the parent must show a material change in circumstances, such as a 30
percent change in income, a change in custody, a child’s new medical
needs, or new insurance or childcare costs, that produces a difference
of at least 15 percent.
Modification runs from when the petition is filed and served, not
from when the change happened. A parent who loses a job and waits six
months to file owes six months at the old rate. File promptly. If the
Office of Recovery Services is involved, you can also ask ORS for an
administrative review.
Enforcing child support
Utah enforces child support aggressively, and the tools do not
require a new court case. The Office of Recovery Services can garnish
wages, intercept tax refunds, place liens on property, report arrears to
credit bureaus, suspend driver, professional, and recreational licenses,
and deny passports. Unpaid support accrues interest and becomes a
judgment. A parent can also file a motion for contempt in the family
court, which can result in fees, sanctions, and in persistent cases
jail. The Legislature expanded license suspension for large arrears in
2026. Our Utah child support enforcement guide covers the current tools
and how to respond if they are used against you.
Child support for unmarried
parents
The calculation is identical. What differs is that paternity must be
established first, by voluntary declaration, court order, or ORS
administrative order. Fathers who want custody and parent-time orders at
the same time should file in district court rather than waiting for
ORS.
Agreements to reduce or
waive support
Parents can agree on an amount, but the court must approve it, and a
judge will not approve an agreement that leaves a child with less than
the guidelines provide without a good reason. Support belongs to the
child, not the parent, and an informal deal to skip it is unenforceable.
Our article on whether parents can agree not to pay child support
explains what the court will and will not accept.
How CoilLaw handles
child support cases
We start with the numbers: both parents’ real income, the actual
overnight schedule, and the add-ons. Most disputes are won or lost on
the inputs, so we verify them, subpoena records where a parent is hiding
income, and bring in a forensic accountant when self-employment income
is in question. From there we negotiate where an agreement is possible
and litigate where it is not, in initial orders, modifications, and
enforcement, throughout Salt Lake County, Utah County, and the Wasatch
Front.
Frequently asked questions
How much is child support in Utah?
It depends on both parents’ gross incomes, the number of children, and the custody arrangement, all run through Utah’s guideline tables. We can calculate a reliable estimate at a consultation once we have the income figures and the overnight schedule.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support?
Not necessarily. Under the joint custody worksheet, equal overnights reduce support substantially, but the higher-earning parent usually still pays something to the lower-earning parent.
Can my ex and I agree to no child support?
Only with court approval, and judges rarely approve it. Support is the child’s right and cannot be waived by the parents.
What if my ex quit their job to avoid paying?
The court can impute income based on what they could earn, and at minimum, full-time minimum wage. Voluntary unemployment does not reduce support.
How do I lower my child support?
By correcting the inputs: your real income, the other parent’s imputed income, the actual overnights, credit for insurance you carry, and other children you support. If the order is more than three years old, a 10 percent guideline difference is enough to modify.
When does child support end in Utah?
When the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later, automatically for that child. It can be extended for an adult child with a disability.
What happens if I fall behind?
Interest accrues, ORS can garnish wages and intercept tax refunds, licenses can be suspended, and the court can find you in contempt. If your income has dropped, file to modify immediately rather than falling behind.
Does child support cover college?
Not in Utah. Parents can agree to fund college in a decree, and that agreement is enforceable, but a court will not order it.
Talk to a Utah child
support attorney
Whether you are establishing support for the first time, need to
change an order that no longer fits your life, or are dealing with
arrears, call CoilLaw at 801-884-3775 or contact us online. We will run
the numbers and tell you where you stand.
