A parent is considered voluntarily unemployed if they choose not to work or work below their earning capacity without good cause. Washington courts will impute income to voluntarily unemployed parents based on their work history and local job market under RCW 26.19.071.
RCW 26.19.071(6): The court shall determine whether a parent is voluntarily underemployed or voluntarily unemployed based upon that parent's assets, residence, employment and earnings history, job skills, educational attainment, literacy, health, age, criminal record, dependency court obligations, and other employment barriers, record of seeking work, and the local job market.
What Courts Consider Voluntary: Quitting a job without good cause before or during child support proceedings. Refusing available work in your field. Taking a lower paying job without legitimate reason. Failing to seek work while unemployed. Working part-time when full-time work is available in your field.
What Courts Do Not Consider Voluntary: Layoff or involuntary termination. Inability to work due to documented medical disability. Unemployment due to compliance with court-ordered reunification efforts. A high school student working limited hours. A parent recently released from incarceration actively seeking work.
If you are found voluntarily unemployed the court uses your imputed income not your actual income. This increases your obligation if you are the paying parent or reduces the other parent's obligation if they are voluntarily unemployed. Imputed income stays until you return to appropriate employment or successfully modify the order.
Courts consider all circumstances including childcare responsibilities. A parent staying home may avoid imputation if childcare costs would exceed their earning capacity or if the children's needs require full-time care.
Termination for cause may be treated as voluntary in some cases especially if the court finds the behavior leading to termination was intentional.
Document active job search with applications, rejection letters, and recruiter contacts. Provide medical records if disability prevents work.
Use our 2026 Washington State estimator to see how these legal terms impact your support amount. All calculators are RCW 26.19 compliant.