District of Columbia Child Support Resources

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District of Columbia sets child support with a written guideline, and the official worksheet is how the math gets shown to the judge. Both parents' income normally goes into the calculation, along with things like health insurance for the children and child care costs.

The official guideline materials for District of Columbia are linked below, together with the verified support documents and the financial paperwork the court usually asks both sides to file. Our own calculator can give you a working estimate before you fill in the official worksheet.

Official District of Columbia child support resources

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District of Columbia child support guideline resources (dccourts.gov): Official District of Columbia child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://cssd.dc.gov/service/child-support-guideline-calculator

District of Columbia financial affidavit and disclosure forms (dccourts.gov): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most District of Columbia family cases ask both sides to complete. https://www.dccourts.gov/services/family-matters/forms

District of Columbia family law forms (official index) (District of Columbia judicial branch): The official statewide collection of District of Columbia family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.dccourts.gov/services/forms

District of Columbia court self-help resources (District of Columbia courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own District of Columbia family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.dccourts.gov/services/family-matters/self-help-center

eFileDC (DC Courts): DC Superior Court is moving to the new eFileDC system in phases. Civil, tax, and probate cases are already on it, while family and domestic relations cases still e-file through the older CaseFileXpress system until they are moved over. https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/e-filing

Verified official District of Columbia support documents

These official documents are the worksheets and orders District of Columbia uses to set and record child support.

Answer to Petition to Establish Parentage and/or for Child Support (Child Support), official document: https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/2019-07/ANSWER%20TO%20PETITION%20TO%20ESTABLISH%20PATERNITY%20AND%20OR%20FOR%20CHILD%20SUPPORT_0.pdf

Official link data for District of Columbia was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in District of Columbia?

Through the state's written guideline, applied on the official worksheet. The guideline uses income and a defined list of add-ons rather than a judge's rough guess, so filling the worksheet in honestly is the single most useful thing you can do. Open the official District of Columbia guideline materials above for the exact method.

Can the court order a different amount than the guideline?

A judge can depart from the guideline in some situations, but the order normally has to explain why. Start from the guideline number and be ready to say plainly what makes your case different.

How much does it cost to file a family case in District of Columbia?

Divorce filing fee: ~$120. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.