How Much Child Support Must be Paid After a California Divorce?

One of the most fundamental obligations of a parent is to ensure that a child’s basic needs are provided for. This obligation does not go away just because a parent is not living with a child. In fact, a parent is obliged to provide support even for a child who he or she does not visit, does not know, and did not intend to conceive. Child support is required of any parent whose rights have not been terminated by the court, and it must be paid regardless of whether the child’s parents were married at the time when the child was conceived. Child support also cannot be waived in a prenuptial agreement.

While child support must be paid after a divorce or separation in virtually all cases, the amount of support that is owed is going to differ depending upon many different factors. Parents need to understand how child support will be calculated when a separation or divorce occurs, or whenever there is a shared child who is not being raised in a home with both mother and father. An Irvine, CA divorce and family law attorney at Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can provide assistance in understanding how much child support must be paid and can help you to try to ensure you have enough money to provide for your children.

How Much Child Support Must be Paid After a California Divorce?

There is a standard formula that is used to determine how much child support must be paid after a California divorce or any time two parents separate and raise a child in different homes. The California Department of Child Support Services has a calculator on its website that you can enter relevant information into in order to determine how much support will be necessary based on the standard formula and the specifics of your situation.

Some of the different things you will need to enter into the calculator to determine how much child support must be paid after a California divorce include:

• The number of children shared with the other parent.
• The percentage of time the child spends with each parent.
• The tax filing status of both parents.
• The income of both parents including wages, salary, and other sources of funds.
• The amount of required expenses such as property taxes, required contributions to a retirement account, and existing spousal support or child support orders.
• Details about any public benefits that are received.
• Health insurance information and information about extraordinary health expenditures.
• Itemized deductions and other tax deductions.

These are just a few of the key factors used to assess the correct amount of support. Because the child support formula can be complicated to apply, the best option you have is to use the calculators and to get legal assistance from a divorce lawyer who knows how California’s child support guidelines work.

To learn more about how the formula will apply to your case, and for help petitioning for a support order so you can get the money your child needs, contact the Irvine child support lawyers at Brown & Charbonneau, LLP today.