If a parent has the children 50% of the time do they have to pay child support?

If your a man get a lawyer. The judge and the ex wife just see you as an open wallet.

It depends. If the person makes more money than the other person, then yes. Washington doesn't really take into account the custody schedule. It takes into account the total earned by both parties and then sets a sort of "total child support" expected by both people. Then depending on the percent difference in earning between the two, the "total" is modified to be what is owed by the person making more. And the person making less owes "nothing"... Basically assuming that they de facto pay day to day, and anything paid by the person making more is just making up the difference for what they also de facto pay. It is archaic. It makes almost no sense. It is lame. But So it is.