Match Each Entry to Its Supporting Record
| Worksheet Area | Records to Gather | Common Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Income entries | Wage, tax or business-income records identifying the period covered. | Using rough estimates or mixed periods. |
| Deductions | Documents that support each claimed deduction instead of relying on unsupported totals. | Assuming the worksheet line is enough by itself. |
| Changed-circumstance stories | A work and residence chronology that explains how the numbers shifted. | No timeline connecting the records to the claimed change. |
When a Worksheet Raises a Factual Question
Find Unsupported or Inconsistent Entries
Compare the figure entered with the record behind it. Note missing documents, mixed time periods or unexplained differences so counsel can decide what further information is needed.
Check Business and Self-Employment Facts
Entity control, cash flow and possible unreported income may require further records or investigation. Identify the disputed fact; a worksheet entry alone cannot establish the underlying business activity.
Explain When the Income Changed
List job changes, business developments and relevant residence changes by date. Include the supporting record and distinguish an explanation given by a party from a fact independently verified.
Form Dates and Deduction Categories
Check the official worksheet, schedule and statutory text for the applicable version and conditions. The categories below do not establish that a particular claimed expense qualifies.
| Data Point | Figure | Source Context |
|---|---|---|
| Current worksheet revision | June 2026 | Washington Courts lists WSCSS Worksheets 06/2026; the child-support schedule states an effective date of January 1, 2026. |
| RCW chapter governing support calculations | RCW 26.19 | Statutory basis for child-support guidelines and deviation factors in Washington. |
| Deduction entries in worksheet Part I, line 2 | Income taxes, FICA or self-employment taxes, specified mandatory deductions, industrial insurance, union dues, pension and qualifying retirement contributions, maintenance actually paid, and normal business expenses | The worksheet and schedule set conditions for these entries. Household expenses and debt are not a blanket deduction category. |
| Contested support cases involving income verification disputes | Majority of contested files | Practitioner experience; income verification is the most common factual dispute in support cases. |
Sources and Further Reading
2026 Child Support Worksheets FAQ
Does using the revised worksheet resolve a disputed income figure?
No. The figure still needs supporting records for the relevant period. Identify the disagreement and any missing documents before treating the entry as established.
What records should support a deduction?
Gather documents showing the specific deduction, amount and period. It must also fit the worksheet and schedule rules; a household bill does not qualify merely because it appears elsewhere in your financial records.
Can a PI decide the calculation or a disputed deduction?
No. Counsel addresses the calculation and legal treatment of deductions. A PI can investigate a defined factual issue or organize records for that review.
What should I do when the worksheet numbers are disputed?
Compare each questioned entry with its original record and date range. Keep the current order and relevant worksheets together, and ask counsel which additional records or factual checks are needed.