Reviewed August 2026
Child Support in Alaska
Alaska calculates child support differently from most states. Alaska Civil Rule 90.3 does not combine both parents' incomes. Instead it sets the paying parent's obligation as a percentage of that parent's own adjusted annual income. The rate is 20 percent for one child, 27 percent for two, and 33 percent for three. Each additional child adds 3 percent. The other parent's income generally does not factor into the calculation the way it would under an income shares model. The Alaska Child Support Services Division, or CSED, is the state's IV-D agency. It can establish, modify, and enforce support obligations administratively in many cases, alongside the superior court's authority. A parent can apply for CSED's services online through the agency's client portal at childsupport.alaska.gov.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how child support works under Alaska law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Alaska paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The percentage of obligor income model
Rule 90.3 starts from the noncustodial parent's adjusted annual income. That means total income from all sources, minus mandatory deductions. Those deductions include taxes, Social Security and Medicare contributions, mandatory retirement contributions, and support already owed for other children. The rule then multiplies that adjusted income by a set percentage based on how many children are covered by the order. A parent with total income of $30,000 or less receives a low-income adjustment. This can further reduce the adjusted income used in the calculation. The rule also allows a reduction of up to 75 percent of the obligation for extended visitation. This applies when the paying parent has more than 27 consecutive days of visitation. It lets a court impute potential income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.
Applying for CSED services
CSED runs Alaska's federal IV-D child support program. It offers services to both custodial and noncustodial parents. These include establishing paternity, opening a new support order, and collecting or enforcing an order that already exists. A parent applies online through the CSED client portal. The agency can act administratively on many parts of a case, rather than sending every step through a judge.
Who decides an Alaska child support case
Alaska's superior court can establish and change child support as part of a divorce, custody, or paternity case. CSED also has independent administrative authority under state law to establish and modify support orders in IV-D cases. Rule 90.3 itself refers to a notice of petition for modification issued by CSED, which triggers the modification process. A parent who disagrees with an administrative CSED action can still bring the matter to the superior court.
Modifying an existing order
Rule 90.3(h) presumes a material change in circumstances when recalculating support under the current guidelines would change the amount. That change must be more than 15 percent, up or down, from the existing order. Federal law bars retroactive modification of child support arrears. So a change in an Alaska order generally takes effect from the date a modification motion or CSED notice is served, not before. The rule also lets either parent use an informal income exchange process to check whether a modification is worth pursuing before filing.
Enforcement tools
CSED can pursue income withholding directly from an obligor's paycheck. It can also intercept state and federal tax refunds and report unpaid support to credit bureaus. Alaska is also known for intercepting a resident's Permanent Fund Dividend to pay down child support arrears. This tool is fairly unique to the state, given the dividend program itself. License suspension and other administrative remedies are available for parents who fall significantly behind. A parent can also be held in contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order.
Sources: Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 90.3, Child Support Awards), Alaska Child Support Services Division (CSED), Alaska Court System Family Law Self-Help Center
Not independently confirmed
- Exact statutory citation for Permanent Fund Dividend interception for child support arrears
- Current online worksheet or calculator format published for Rule 90.3 calculations
- Whether license suspension for nonpayment is authorized by a specific statute versus general CSED administrative practice
Child Support in Alaska: frequently asked questions
Does Alaska use the income shares model for child support?+
No. Alaska is one of the few states that calculates support as a percentage of the noncustodial parent's own adjusted annual income under Civil Rule 90.3. It does not combine both parents' incomes. The percentage is 20 percent for one child, 27 percent for two, 33 percent for three, and an added 3 percent per additional child.
What is CSED and how do I apply for its services?+
CSED, the Child Support Services Division, is Alaska's state child support agency. It can establish paternity, set up a support order, and collect or enforce an order that is already in place. A parent applies online through the agency's client portal at childsupport.alaska.gov.
Does an Alaska court have to decide my child support case, or can CSED do it?+
Both can. The superior court decides support as part of a divorce, custody, or paternity case. CSED also has administrative authority under state law to establish and modify orders in cases it handles. A parent who disagrees with a CSED decision can still take the matter to the superior court.
When can I modify my Alaska child support order?+
Rule 90.3(h) presumes a material change when recalculating the guidelines would change the support amount by more than 15 percent from the existing order. Federal law bars retroactive changes to child support arrears. So a modification generally takes effect from the date a motion or CSED notice is served.
Can Alaska take my Permanent Fund Dividend for unpaid child support?+
Yes. Alaska can intercept a resident's Permanent Fund Dividend to pay down child support arrears. It also uses more common tools, like income withholding and tax refund interception. This dividend intercept is one of the enforcement tools that sets Alaska apart from most other states.
Is there an official Alaska child support calculator?+
The percentage of income formula in Rule 90.3 is straightforward. The Alaska Court System's self-help materials and CSED both walk parents through the adjusted income calculation and the applicable percentage. For your case, confirm the current worksheet format on the court system's family law self-help pages.
This page is general information about child support in Alaska, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Alaska's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Alaska. Virdix does not prepare or file Alaska divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Alaska.
More Alaska divorce guides
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