Plain-language definitions of key terms used in Washington State child support calculations and court filings.
The Self-Support Reserve (SSR) is a minimum income protection limit set by Washington State to ensure a paying parent is not left impoverished after paying child support. In 2026, the SSR is approximately $2,394 (180% of the federal poverty level).
Read SSR GuideA deviation is a court-approved adjustment to the standard presumptive child support amount. It allows a judge to increase or decrease the payment based on specific 'good cause' factors not captured in the basic economic tables.
Read Deviation GuideImputed income is an estimated income amount assigned by a court to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed, underemployed, or fails to provide sufficient financial documentation.
Read Imputed Income GuideThe transfer payment is the final, legally enforceable dollar amount that one parent must pay to the other parent each month for child support.
Read Transfer Payment GuideCombined net income is the total sum of both Parent 1 and Parent 2's monthly income after all mandatory state deductions (like taxes, union dues, and L&I) are removed.
Read Net Income GuideExtraordinary expenses are large, out-of-pocket costs that are NOT covered by the basic child support transfer payment. By Washington law, these must be shared proportionately based on each parent's income percentage.
Read Extraordinary Expenses GuideOur editorial methodology ensures all definitions and calculations comply with the 2026 Washington State economic tables.
Our Methodology