💼 Using Child Support or Alimony as Income When Applying for a Mortgage

When applying for a mortgage, lenders want to make sure your income is stable, reliable, and ongoing. If you receive child support or alimony (also known as spousal support), the good news is—it can be counted toward your qualifying income. But like everything in lending, there are a few key rules you need to meet.

Here’s what you should know if you’re planning to use this type of income to qualify:

✅ What Counts as Qualifying Support Income?

Child support, alimony, or separate maintenance payments can all be considered as income—as long as certain requirements are met. These guidelines apply to conventional loans (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac), and while FHA and VA have similar rules, your lender will always help you determine what’s allowed for your specific situation.

📄 The 3 Key Requirements

1. It Must Be Court-Ordered or Legal

The payments must be documented in a divorce decree, separation agreement, or a legal court order. Informal agreements—no matter how consistent—usually won’t qualify.

2. You Must Have a 6-Month History of Receiving It

Lenders need to see that you've actually been receiving the payments on time and in full for at least six consecutive months. You’ll typically need to provide:

• Bank statements showing deposits

• Copies of checks

• Statements from your state child support enforcement agency

📌 Note: In some cases, automated deposits from a state system are the easiest to verify.

3. It Must Be Scheduled to Continue for at Least 3 More Years

To count as income, the support must be expected to continue for at least 36 months after closing. This is especially important when the child is nearing the age of emancipation (typically 18 or 21, depending on your state).

🛑 What Doesn't Count?

• Payments that are not legally documented

• Support that ends within 3 years of your loan closing

• Income that is sporadic or inconsistent

• Verbal agreements with no paper trail

🧾 Documentation You’ll Need:

• Divorce decree or legal separation agreement

• Proof of receipt for the last 6 months

• Verification of the continuation timeline

• (Optional but helpful: contact info for the paying party or enforcement agency)

💬 Final Thoughts

Using child support or alimony can absolutely help you qualify for a mortgage—sometimes making the difference between getting approved or not. But it has to meet the standard underwriting requirements.

If you're not sure whether your support income will qualify, or need help gathering the right paperwork, I’m happy to walk you through it. Getting organized early in the process can make everything go more smoothly later.

Have questions? Reach out anytime—I'm here to help you navigate it step by step.