Connecticut’s New Child Support Rules

Connecticut is replacing its child support and arrearage guidelines effective August 1, 2026. The revision changes how income is measured, how support is calculated when a child has more than two legal parents, and how past-due balances are collected after support ends. Parents with existing orders should understand what is different before their next court date.

A Wider Income Schedule

The old schedule stopped at $4,000 in net weekly income. Above that line, attorneys extrapolated or argued for a deviation. The new schedule extends to $6,000 net per week, or $312,000 annually.

Deviation arguments still matter. But the guidelines now supply a starting figure in far more cases than they used to.

Support Involving More Than Two Parents

Consistent with the Connecticut Parentage Act, the revised rules add a worksheet with a third column for a third parent’s income, taxes, and allowable deductions. The combined income of all three parents sets the basic obligation. That obligation is then divided according to each parent’s share. Courts may also deviate from the presumptive amount when a child has more than two legally recognized parents.

The amended regulations are published in full through the Connecticut eRegulations portal.

Other Adjustments Worth Knowing

Several smaller revisions will affect the arithmetic on nearly every worksheet.

• Paid Family and Medical Leave contributions are entered alongside state and local income taxes.

• Union dues no longer need to be mandatory to qualify as a deduction from net income.

• A parent may deduct a prior court-ordered obligation for another child even if payments are behind, provided it is not an arrearage payment.

• Imputed income now requires the court to weigh defined criteria, including assets, work history, health, and local job market conditions. Full-time employment means thirty-two hours per week.

Social Security Dependency Benefits

When a custodial parent receives a retroactive lump-sum dependency benefit based on the other parent’s disability, the court reduces arrears that accrued during the period the payment covers. Ongoing monthly benefits offset current support, and any excess may be applied against past arrears.

Collecting Arrearages After Support Ends

A child ages out. The balance remains. Under the new rule, courts may order weekly payments between 20% and 100% of an imputed support order. If a reasonable support figure would have been $300 per week, the ordered payment could fall anywhere between $60 and $300.

What Shelton Families Should Consider

Orders entered before August 1 stay in force. A guideline revision is not automatically a substantial change in circumstances, so modification still requires a properly filed motion and supporting evidence. Run the numbers under the new schedule first. A Shelton child support lawyer can tell you whether the difference is meaningful enough to pursue.

If you’re weighing a modification or facing an arrearage claim, a Shelton, CT child support lawyer can review your worksheet and identify deductions that may now apply.

The attorneys at Willinger, Willinger & Bucci, PLLC advise Connecticut parents on support orders, modifications, and past-due obligations. Contact our office to discuss how the August 2026 guidelines affect your case.