How is child support calculated in Oregon?

Under the Oregon Child Support Guidelines (ORS 25.275, OAR 137-050-0700 to 0765), using the Child Support Worksheet (CSF 02 0910), which factors in both parents' income, the amount of time each parent spends with the children, and health insurance and childcare expenses added to the base obligation.

Is there a minimum support amount?

Yes. Oregon sets a minimum child support obligation of $100 per month per child, even when the formula's calculation would otherwise produce a lower amount.

How is child support enforced in Oregon?

Income withholding is required for all new or modified orders, even without past-due support. Withholding occurs immediately whenever there's an arrearage of at least one month's support, whenever the paying parent requests it, or whenever the receiving parent requests it for good cause.

Oregon, United States

Oregon Child Support: A Parent's Guide

Q: Where can I get an official calculation?

The Oregon Department of Justice provides a free official calculator at justice.oregon.gov/guidelines that generates a court-ready worksheet judges accept as the standard calculation document.

Q: How do I request a modification in Oregon?

Most establishment and modification happens through administrative authority: a consent order, an order after default, or an order after a hearing before a state Administrative Law Judge in a contested case, using the same statewide guidelines applied to current income and circumstances.

How child support works in Oregon, in plain English: the statewide formula, modification, and immediate withholding enforcement.

Legal sources reviewed: August 10, 2026

On this page

In short: Oregon uses a statewide formula weighing both parents' income and actual parenting time, with a firm $100/month per child minimum. Income withholding is required on every new or modified order, even without any arrears, and the Oregon Child Support Program can escalate through tax refunds, liens, and garnishment of income sources like lottery winnings once voluntary payment fails.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything beyond general understanding, talk to a licensed Oregon family law attorney.

What Oregon generally provides

Under ORS 25.275 and OAR 137-050-0700 to 0765, Oregon's Child Support Guidelines apply in all child support cases statewide, calculated using the official Child Support Worksheet (CSF 02 0910).

Important terminology

CSF 02 0910: Oregon's official Child Support Worksheet form.
$100/month per child minimum: the floor Oregon applies regardless of what the formula would otherwise calculate.
Immediate withholding triggers: the specific conditions (one month's arrearage, either parent's request, or good cause) that start income withholding right away.

How the calculation works

Weighing income and actual time together

Oregon's formula includes the amount of time each parent spends with their children directly in the calculation, alongside both parents' income, with health insurance and childcare expenses added to the base obligation.

A guaranteed minimum

Oregon sets a minimum child support obligation of $100 per month per child, even in situations where the formula's underlying calculation would otherwise produce a lower figure, ensuring a baseline contribution regardless of income level.

Using the official calculator

The Oregon Department of Justice provides a free official calculator at justice.oregon.gov/guidelines that generates a court-ready worksheet judges accept as the standard calculation document, and a more advanced Excel-based version is available for users with detailed knowledge of the guidelines.

Requesting or defending a modification

Most support establishment and modification in Oregon happens through administrative authority: a consent order, an order after default, or an order after a hearing before a state Administrative Law Judge in a contested case, applying the same statewide guidelines to the parties' current income and circumstances. See the child support calculator and guideline finder for jurisdiction-specific calculation sources and guidance.

How enforcement works

Income withholding is required for all new or modified support orders, even where there's no past-due support, it isn't triggered only by delinquency. Withholding occurs immediately whenever there's an arrearage at least equal to one month's payment, whenever the paying parent requests it, or whenever the receiving parent requests it for good cause. When voluntary collection and standard withholding aren't working, the Oregon Child Support Program can escalate to intercepting federal or state tax refunds and other federal payments, filing liens against property, and garnishing less conventional income sources like lottery winnings, insurance settlements, or inheritance, as well as bank accounts, unless those sources are already covered by existing withholding.

Common questions

Does income withholding only start after a missed payment? No, Oregon requires it on virtually every new or modified order from the outset, regardless of payment history.

Is there a floor on how low support can be set? Yes, $100/month per child is Oregon's minimum, even for lower-income paying parents, unless the formula's calculation is somehow higher.

What if my co-parent isn't paying? Contact the Oregon Child Support Program (Department of Justice), which can escalate through tax intercepts, liens, and garnishment of a broad range of income sources.

Practical considerations

Because Oregon's formula bakes actual parenting time directly into the calculation, keeping an accurate record of the real schedule, not just what the paperwork nominally says, matters for getting the number right, and worth confirming with the Department of Justice's official calculator rather than an outside estimate. For the custody and parenting-time rules underlying this calculation, see the Oregon custody guide.

Official Oregon resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.