Will My Ex Still Pay Child Support If I Make More Money?

Written by Anthony Piccirilli

Whether you share custody or are the full custodial parent, ensuring your children are taken care of is one of your highest responsibilities. The Commonwealth mandates that both parents provide monetary support. However, if you’ve recently gotten a raise or you start making more than your ex, you could have questions about child support payments — especially if you’re worried your ex will stop paying at all.

Child support and support modifications are confusing, particularly if circumstances change for either party. If you have questions about your child support payments after a raise, a Pittsburgh child support lawyer from Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC, can help.

Call (412) 471-5100 or fill out our form to schedule a consultation.

How is Child Support Calculated After a Divorce?

All parents in Pennsylvania are legally obligated to support their children. When parents live apart, one may be ordered to pay child support — typically the noncustodial parent, or the parent who spends less time with the child.

Child support is calculated using statewide guidelines found in 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-4.

The amount depends on:

• The number of children being supported
• Each parent’s monthly net income
• The custody arrangement
• Reasonable expenses for the child (healthcare, education, etc.)
• Each parent’s ability to pay

The custodial parent is assumed to contribute directly to the child’s needs by providing day-to-day care, so they typically do not pay support to the other parent — even if they earn more.

What If I Make More Money Than the Other Parent?

Earning more money doesn’t necessarily mean your ex is off the hook for child support. The court still considers who provides primary care for the child and how the financial responsibilities are shared.

• If you’re the custodial parent, your income may affect how the overall support obligation is divided — but your ex may still owe you monthly support, even if it’s a smaller amount.
• If you’re the noncustodial parent and your income has increased, your support payments may go up if your ex requests a modification.

The court may also consider other factors like:

• Your standard of living
• Extra costs you cover (like health insurance or private school)
• The amount of time your child spends with each parent

Will a Raise Automatically Mean I Have to Pay More in Child Support?

If you’ve received a raise at work, your child support amount will not automatically change. Instead, either parent will need to make a formal request to modify child support. Before they make this request, there must be a significant change in circumstances.

Once a request to update child support payments is made to the court, the judge must assess whether the income is significant, what the current custody arrangement is, and what other changes there are in the child’s life.

Until the judge approves the request to change the child support payments, you and your ex should continue with the agreed-upon plan — it’s still legally enforceable. If the paying parent misses payments, the court may hold them in contempt and begin enforcement actions.

What is a Significant Change in Circumstances to Modify Child Support?

When courts consider changing agreements pertaining to children like custody or support, they must consider several factors. A change in circumstances could affect a child’s upbringing, and because the Commonwealth ruled a child must be raised with their best interests at heart, these circumstances need examined.

One parent getting a significant raise in income is one of the biggest changes in circumstances a court will consider when child support could be modified. Other circumstances include:

• A parent gets a new job with different hours
• A parent may need to relocate to a new city
• A parent could become disabled or unable to work
• A parent loses their job
• There is an increase in costs related to the child’s medical care or education
• One parent has remarried

Can My Ex Ask to Lower or Stop Child Support Payments if I Got a Raise?

Your ex can ask the court to lower or even stop child support payments if they feel your raise is significant enough to justify their request. It’s not uncommon for one parent to ask to pay less in child support if they learn the other parent has earned a raise.

However, they’ll need to prove this change in circumstances makes the current arrangement unfair and that the child’s needs will still be met with a smaller contribution — or no payments at all. The court will need to review both parents’ incomes, the custody arrangements, and the child’s best interests before making a decision.

In rare instances, your ex could ask to stop paying altogether. Just like a reduction, ending child support payments is not automatic. Most child support plans continue until the child is 18 and graduates high school. Some exceptions apply, like changes in custody or if the child is legally emancipated. In most cases, your ex will still need to make some kind of contribution.

Remember: child support is not a reward or punishment — it’s a tool to ensure your child’s needs are met.

Can We Make Our Own Agreement About Child Support Payments?

Yes — Pennsylvania allows parents to negotiate their own child support agreement, but it must be approved by the court to be enforceable. This can be a helpful option if the guideline formula doesn’t fairly reflect your situation.

For example, if you’re covering most of the child’s expenses, or if travel or medical costs aren’t fully accounted for in the guidelines, you and your ex may be able to agree on a custom amount.

Your child support attorney can help you:

• Draft an agreement that reflects your child’s needs
• Negotiate with your ex in a productive way
• Submit the agreement to the court for approval

Once approved, your new support order will take effect.

FAQS about Child Support & Changes to Income

If I remarry, can the court consider my new spouse’s income when calculating child support?

No. In Pennsylvania, only the biological or adoptive parents’ incomes are used to calculate child support. Your new partner’s income generally isn’t considered, even if you live together or they help cover household expenses.

What if my ex quits their job so they don’t have to pay child support?

If your ex is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income to them — meaning the judge will calculate support based on what they could be earning, not what they actually are. Courts take a dim view of parents trying to dodge their obligations this way.

Can bonuses, overtime, or commissions affect child support calculations?

Yes. Pennsylvania includes most forms of income — including bonuses, commissions, and regular overtime — when calculating child support. If these payments are recurring or predictable, they’ll likely be factored into the guideline amount.

If I switch to a job with better benefits but lower pay, can I lower my child support?

It depends. If your new job provides value (like free health insurance for your child) but your take-home pay is lower, the court may consider this a valid reason to modify your support. However, you’ll need to show it was a good-faith employment change, not an attempt to reduce payments.

Do I still have to pay child support if I’m paying for everything directly — like rent or tuition?

Yes. Direct payments for things like school or housing don’t count unless the court order specifically allows them. You must pay support as ordered, and any changes to how expenses are handled should be approved by the court to avoid legal trouble.

Get Help From a Pittsburgh Child Support Lawyer

Whether you’re making more money or your ex is pushing to lower payments, you deserve clarity and a fair outcome. At Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC, we understand how emotional and complicated child support issues can be. Attorney Anthony Piccirilli will work with you to review your income, calculate what’s fair, and help you pursue or defend against any modifications.

Call us today at (412) 471-5100 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.