Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Washington all rolled out new child support guidelines in 2026, with Pennsylvania raising basic support obligations 3-10% and adding orthodontia and psychiatric expenses to shareable costs effective January 1, 2026. The critical catch: none of these changes are automatic. Parents must file a modification petition to benefit from the updated numbers.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | Three states updated child support guidelines in their 2026 quadrennial reviews |
| When | Pennsylvania effective Jan. 1, 2026; Colorado March 1, 2026; Washington 2026 |
| Where | Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington |
| Pennsylvania changes | Basic obligations up 3-10%; orthodontia and psychiatric expenses now shareable |
| Colorado/Washington | Colorado income cap raised to $40,000/mo; Washington income table extended to $50,000/mo |
| Practical impact | Changes are NOT automatic — a modification petition must be filed |
Why this matters legally
The 2026 guideline updates change the dollar amounts Pennsylvania courts use to calculate child support, but they do not retroactively rewrite existing orders. This is the single most important takeaway for the public: an existing support order from 2024 keeps running at the old number until a parent petitions the court to modify it.
Child support guidelines exist to standardize outcomes so that two children in similar economic circumstances receive comparable support regardless of which judge hears the case. Pennsylvania reviews its guidelines every four years, as required by federal law under 45 C.F.R. § 302.56, to keep the schedule aligned with current economic data on the cost of raising children. The 2026 revision reflects rising costs since the last update, which is why basic obligations climbed 3-10% across most income brackets.
The addition of orthodontia and psychiatric expenses to the list of shareable costs is a meaningful expansion. Previously, these expenses often triggered disputes over whether they qualified as "extraordinary" medical costs. By naming them explicitly, the revised guidelines reduce litigation over whether braces or a child's therapy bills get split between parents.
How Pennsylvania law handles this
Pennsylvania calculates child support under the Income Shares Model, codified in 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322, which estimates the amount parents would have spent on the child if the household had stayed intact, then divides that obligation in proportion to each parent's income. The detailed support schedule and calculation rules live in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 through 1910.16-7, which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court amended for the 2026 cycle.
Under the Income Shares Model, the court combines both parents' monthly net incomes, locates the basic support obligation on the schedule, and allocates it by income percentage. The 2026 schedule simply raises the numbers in that table. A paying parent earning the same income as in 2024 will now see a higher basic obligation when a new calculation runs.
Modification is governed by 23 Pa.C.S. § 4352, which permits a party to seek modification upon a showing of a material and substantial change in circumstances. A guideline change alone can support a modification request, but the parent still must file. Pennsylvania courts generally make modified support retroactive only to the date the petition was filed, not to January 1, 2026 — which is why waiting costs money. A parent who files in June recovers nothing for the January-through-May gap.
The orthodontia and psychiatric expense additions fold into the unreimbursed medical expense allocation that Pennsylvania already applies under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-6, where medical costs exceeding a threshold are divided between parents by income share. Naming these expenses removes ambiguity that previously forced parents into court to argue over classification.
Practical takeaways
-
File a modification petition if you believe the 2026 guidelines would change your order. The new numbers do not apply to your case until you ask the court to recalculate. Existing orders run unchanged indefinitely.
-
Act quickly because support is retroactive only to the filing date. Under Pennsylvania practice, every month you delay filing is a month at the old amount you cannot recover later.
-
Run the numbers before filing. A higher guideline schedule helps a recipient parent but raises the obligation for a paying parent. Calculate your likely new figure before deciding whether modification benefits you.
-
Gather documentation of orthodontia and psychiatric expenses. Now that these are explicitly shareable, keep invoices and proof of payment so you can claim your co-parent's proportional share.
-
Confirm your state's effective date. Colorado's expanded $40,000 income cap took effect March 1, 2026, and Washington extended its income table to $50,000 — but in all three states, the change requires a petition, not an automatic recalculation.
-
Consult a family law attorney in your county before filing. Local court procedures and the precise calculation can vary, and an attorney can confirm whether a modification will actually help your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pennsylvania's 2026 child support changes apply automatically to my existing order?
No. Pennsylvania's 2026 guideline changes, effective January 1, 2026, do not apply automatically. Your existing order continues at its current amount until you file a modification petition under 23 Pa.C.S. § 4352. The court recalculates only after you file, not retroactively to January.
How much did Pennsylvania child support increase in 2026?
Pennsylvania raised basic child support obligations by approximately 3-10% in its 2026 guideline revision, effective January 1, 2026, with the exact increase depending on your income bracket. The revised schedule reflects rising child-rearing costs since the prior 2022 update under the Income Shares Model.
Are orthodontia and therapy costs now covered by Pennsylvania child support?
Yes. Effective January 1, 2026, Pennsylvania's revised guidelines explicitly include orthodontia and psychiatric expenses as shareable costs, divided between parents by income percentage under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-6. This removes prior disputes over whether braces or therapy qualified as extraordinary medical expenses.
When can I recover the higher support amount after the 2026 changes?
Pennsylvania makes modified support retroactive only to the date you file your petition, not to the guideline's January 1, 2026 effective date. If you file in June 2026, you recover the higher amount starting in June — the January-through-May gap is lost permanently.
Did Colorado and Washington also change child support in 2026?
Yes. Colorado expanded its income cap to $40,000 per month effective March 1, 2026, and Washington extended its income table to $50,000 per month in 2026. Like Pennsylvania, neither change applies automatically — a parent must file a modification petition to trigger recalculation.
Before you go
If the 2026 guideline changes might affect your support order, the practical next step is to calculate your likely new figure and decide whether filing benefits you. A local family law attorney can run the numbers and handle the petition.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.