Skilled Child Support Lawyer in Long Beach, California
At the Law Offices of Kyle R. Puro, our Long Beach child support attorneys know that working out the financial details of a divorce requires a detailed look at your California child custody agreement or court order.
Once child custody, visitation, and parenting plans are established, the California Child Support Guideline Calculator will help outline an estimated payment amount, although that figure can change based on the needs of the children.
If parents cannot agree on a fair amount, a California family court judge may decide on a different figure, if the case makes it inside the courtroom without an agreement in place.
If you are considering a divorce with children in California, we can help you understand your legal rights and options regarding child support, so you know what you should be paying – or receiving. Our Long Beach child support lawyers represent parents throughout California, no matter which side of the courtroom they are on. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
How Is Child Support Determined in California?
The leading factor in determining the amount of child support that is paid is which parent has primary custody, and which parent has visitation rights, of the children. Once child custody and visitation are determined, additional factors that determine the amount to be paid include, but are not limited to:
- The number of children the couple shares, and their ages.
- The kids’ childcare and education requirements.
- Both parents’ incomes.
- Healthcare expenses, including any special needs a child may have.
- Tax implications.
- Alimony payments assessed during the divorce, when applicable.
The California Family Code outlines the specific forms of income to be included when determining child support calculations in California. In addition, the California family court will review any factors they deem relevant to each child custody case and will do so based on the best interests of the children.
Whether you are the paying parent, or the one receiving child support payments, it is important to partner with a skilled child support lawyer in Long Beach to ensure the amount is fair to both you and your children. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
Will We Have to Go to Court to Determine Who Pays Child Support in California?
When California parents cannot agree to a child support amount — based on the legal guidelines and calculator estimates — privately or during mediation, the details may be litigated in front of a judge. Since child custody and child support are indistinguishably linked, parents should determine both factors at once. If they cannot, the California family courts will decide for them.
How Long Do California Child Support Payments Last?
A parent’s legal obligation to pay child support ends when each of their children turns 18 — or 19 if the child is unmarried and still attending high school full time. If a child has special needs, or is disabled, the court can order both parents to continue supporting the child going forward.
Once the child is free from parental custody, gets married, or joins the military, the paying parent is no longer obligated to make child support payments in California.
When Can I Have My Child Support Amount Modified?
Multiple factors may impact your ability to pay child support, including a job loss, illness, or other hardship that impedes your ability to pay the established amount. Before you may pursue a child support modification, you must be able to prove, using tangible evidence and supporting documentation, that your financial circumstances have changed. This is true if you are pursuing additional child support, too.
At The Law Offices of Kyle R. Puro, our family law attorney in Long Beach, CA focuses on the following practice areas:
- Adoptions
- Attorney Fees
- Child Abduction
- Child Custody
- Child Protective Services
- Common-Law Marriage
- Defacto Parents
- Dependency
- Domestic Violence
- Father’s Rights
- Foster Care
- Paternity
- Prenuptial Agreement
- Relocation
- Retirement Distribution
- Same-Sex Couples and Paternity
- Spousal Support
If you have questions about how your divorce and child custody agreements will impact your child support obligations, contact our Long Beach child support attorneys at The Law Offices of Kyle R. Puro for more information on child support cases at 562-653-4583.
Frequently Asked Questions for Our Child Support Attorneys in Long Beach, California
Not paying child support in California can lead to serious financial and legal problems. Your paycheck or tax returns may be garnished or intercepted to pay the amount you are in arrears. In addition, if the court finds that a parent can pay child support but is willfully not paying it, it can find the parent in contempt of court. This could mean jail time for that parent.
No. Much like not paying child support can land a parent in contempt of court, so can violating the child custody agreement that is in place.
The California child support calculation guidelines are typically the deciding factors in the amount the court dictates in the agreement. Although, under certain circumstances, a judge may award higher payments, as the state of California does not cap the amount of child support that a parent may be ordered to pay.
Our Long Beach child support attorney guides parents through the legal process with precision, which in some cases means explaining that they can agree to less or more child support than what California guideline requires. Before the amount is agreed upon by the court, a judge will review the amount and why the choices were made to ensure it is a fair agreement for all involved.
Our child support attorneys in Long Beach have represented clients who believe if they forego child support payment, the other parent does not have rights to custody or visitation. This is not true. By California law, the duty to support a child falls on both parents, and it cannot be terminated or limited by an agreement between them.
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