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A mother and father’s first obligation is to their child, regardless of their relationship with one another. Because of that, parents are legally required to provide for their children, even if they are no longer married or were never married.
California Child Support
Determining Child Support
Child support guidelines are determined at the state level, meaning there isn’t a federal guideline that’s universally followed.
Here in California, the courts use a set of complicated and nuanced guidelines to determine how much one parent is required to pay. And while several factors are considered, two of the most important are the incomes of both parents and how much time each parent spends with the child/children.
Modifying Child Support Payments
Especially if your child support agreement was created when your kids were very little, there’s a good chance it will need to be adjusted as they age and circumstances in your personal life change.
One of the most common reasons for a modification is changes in one parent’s income level. When someone loses their job or has their hours cut, it’s common to worry about how they’ll pay child support. At first, many people believe that job loss allows them to no longer pay child support or pay a fraction of the amount, however that is not the case.
For a parent to change their child support, a motion must be filed, preferably as soon as possible. Until a judge signs off on the modification, you must pay the previously agreed-upon amount.
Family Law San Diego is dedicated to one thing: helping families move through intense and often difficult changes smoothly and effectively. Schedule a consultation today by calling our attorneys in San Diego at (619) 577-4900 or complete our convenient online contact form.