Are you navigating child support issues in Pasadena, California? Our team at Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group can help. Contact us at 310-361-3475 to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Pasadena child support lawyer today.
Our attorneys have over 70 years of experience handling complex family law matters. We know exactly how important child support decisions are to your child’s future and well-being. Your consultation is entirely free and confidential, and we’re always available to discuss your case.
Why Should I Call Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group for Help Resolving a Child Support Matter in Pasadena?
Like all family law issues, child support can be an emotional and frustrating issue in Pasadena, CA. It’s easy to lose sight of the goal of child support, which is ensuring your child lives the best life you can give them. Our team at Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group offers the support you need at every turn.
Hiring an experienced Pasadena family lawyer is often the key to resolving conflicts and achieving a family’s goals. Members of our team have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Lawyers of Distinction, and The National Trial Lawyers. We’ve earned a perfect lawyer rating from the Avvo lawyer rating service.
We have the skills to help you secure the very best outcome for your family. All you have to do is call our Pasadena family law attorneys to schedule a free consultation today. It’s never too early to start protecting your child’s future.
Overview of the Laws on Child Support in California
All parents are legally required to provide financial support for their children. This legal obligation can be more complicated when parents are unmarried, going through a divorce, or divorced. In California, courts have legal authority to order one parent to pay child support to the other parent.
Child support is generally mandatory in cases involving minor children. That’s true even if two parents agree to split expenses equally. However, you don’t always have to go to court. Two parents are free to reach an agreement on how expenses will be divided.
If you’re unable to agree, the court will step in and decide. While different arrangements are entirely possible, child support is most often paid to the parent with primary physical custody.
What Does Child Support Cover?
The goal of child support is to ensure the child’s needs are met. Many different types of expenses may be considered, including:
- Health insurance and medical expenses
- Housing costs and utility bills
- Transportation
- Education
- Daycare and other types of childcare
- Clothing
- Extracurricular activities
When it comes to child support, disagreements are not uncommon. Discussing concerns with an experienced Pasadena child support attorney can reduce conflict and ensure your child is receiving the financial support they need.
How Long Does Child Support Last in Pasadena?
It’s common for parents to wonder how long child support obligations last. Child support in California typically lasts until the child:
- Reaches age 18 and graduates from high school, or turns 19 (whichever is sooner)
- Gets married or enters a domestic partnership
- Enlists in the military
- Becomes emancipated
- Dies
Two parents can agree to extend child support obligations even after they are no longer legally required. Courts can also extend child support obligations when a child is disabled.
How Are Child Support Payments Calculated in California?
Courts rely on California’s child support guidelines when developing child support orders. California provides a child support calculator that parents can use to estimate payments.
It’s important to note that two parents are not automatically required to split the child’s expenses equally. Payments can vary based on a number of factors–especially when one parent earns more than the other.
California’s child support guidelines consider factors such as:
- Each parent’s income and earning capacity
- Each parent’s obligations with respect to retirement and health insurance payments
- How the two parents file their taxes
- The amount of time each parent spends with the child
- The number of children each parent is supporting
- Child support and spousal support that either parent is currently paying
Family law judges are authorized to deviate from the formula used to calculate child support. When disagreements arise, each parent will present evidence to support their position.
It’s always important to have experienced legal representation when you’re dealing with child support matters.
Am I Required To Pay Child Support in California if I Have Joint Custody of My Child?
You may be ordered to pay child support even if you share joint custody of your child. Sharing child custody rarely means precisely equal parenting time.
That said, child support may be less if two parents spend a relatively equal amount of time with the child. When one parent earns significantly more, courts may order them to pay a higher amount to ensure the child has a similar standard of living in each household.
All families are different. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and obligations–and advocate for a solution that protects your family’s best interests and goals.
What Information Is Relevant When Calculating the Correct Amount of Child Support in California?
When disagreements over child support exist, a discovery period may be required. Each parent can be compelled to present documentation.
Many different documents can be relevant in resolving child support disputes, including:
- Pay stubs and employment records
- Tax returns
- Bank records
- Financial and investment account statements
- Paternity results and genetic testing
- Health insurance coverage information
- Child support or spousal support orders issued in other states
- Military documentation
In some cases, a parent may attempt to underreport income in order to reduce their child support obligations. An attorney can help you get the answers you need. Contact us today to arrange a time to discuss your child support case.
How Do Parents Make Child Support Payments in California?
Different options exist for making child support payments in California. Parents can make payments online through the state’s payment portal. Depending on the circumstances and the court order, child support payments may also be deducted directly from a parent’s paycheck or made through another court-authorized payment method.
Parents who wish to pay by mail can send physical checks to the California State Disbursement Unit to ensure their payments are properly processed and recorded.
Can I Modify a Child Support Order in California if My Circumstances Change?
Yes. Modifications are relatively common when it comes to child support. Situations change over time. Child support can last for years, and parents should expect circumstances to change. Two parents can agree to modify an existing child support order. When parents agree, they can present that agreement to the court. If the court approves it, the new order becomes effective.
Either parent can also petition the court to request a modification. The petition must be based upon a significant change in circumstances. Each parent will have the opportunity to make their arguments and present evidence to support their position.
Examples of changing circumstances that might justify modification of an existing order include:
- Substantial increases or decreases in either parent’s income
- The child’s needs have changed, so that they have needs that were not previously addressed
- Your family’s parenting plan has changed so that one parent is now spending significantly more time with the other
- One parent has experienced a disability or medical condition
- One parent has had another child
- One parent is called to active military duty
Child support orders are not automatically adjusted for inflation. However, it’s possible that a child support order can contain a clause requiring automatic increases over time.
Parents can always elect to share unexpected costs outside of the legally binding order. That’s particularly true in situations where the child has an unexpected or one-time expense–such as an expensive extracurricular need or medical cost.
What Can I Do if My Co-Parent Won’t Pay Child Support in California?
Child support orders are legally binding. That said, the system isn’t perfect. Disputes often arise even once the court has finalized an order.
One parent may lose sight of the fact that the payments are for the child’s benefit. They may feel that the receiving parent isn’t properly managing the funds. A parent may even withhold funds to punish their former partner.
Ignoring child support obligations can have serious consequences, including:
- Garnishing the paying parent’s wages, workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment payments, or Social Security benefits
- Seizing state or federal tax refunds
- Contempt of court charges
- Passport revocation
We know that enforcing child support can be frustrating. Our attorneys have the skills to help. Call our law firm to schedule a consultation to discuss your options today.
Contact an Experienced Pasadena Child Support Lawyer To Arrange a Case Review
Are you dealing with a child support matter in Pasadena, California? Call Berenji Divorce & Family Law Group for reliable legal support today. An experienced Pasadena child support attorney can help your family resolve even the most complicated legal issues.
