Child Support
At San Diego Law Firm, we understand that the welfare of your children is of great importance to you, and that you want your children's needs to be met financially. Several issues may arise regarding child support, and you can depend on our attorneys to skillfully advocate on your behalf.
Child Support Awarded by the Court
In California, a child's parents are mutually responsible for supporting their children. There are a number of established factors that the court uses as guidelines to decide what amount each parent must contribute to supporting the child. If you have children, the attorneys of San Diego law firm will carefully review each of the factors with you, so that we can provide the court with a financial snapshot of both parents that is as accurate as possible. We'll work to make sure that every factor as to child support that is in your favor is presented for the court's consideration. Some of these factors are:
- Each parent's actual income
- Each parent's level of responsibility for child custody
- Each parent's standard of living - their circumstances, and station in life
- The legal requirement that children should share in the standard of living of both parents;
- Whether additional support amounts are needed, such as child care costs related to employment or to education that is reasonably necessary for employment skills.
The court will generally decide whether to award temporary or permanent child support, or both. A temporary child support order may be issued during any proceeding in which the child's support is at issue, and the judge may order either or both parents to pay any amount necessary to support of the child. If you have sole or shared custody of your children, and need immediate financial support from the other parent in order to provide for them, we will seek a temporary support order for you as quickly as possible.
Generally, the duty of child support continues either until the child reaches age 18, or until age 19 if the child is still in high school. If you and the child's other parent wish to extend child support beyond this period, we'll prepare a formal legal agreement and submit it for approval by the court. That way, your children will have the continued legal right to that support from the available assets should the paying parent(s) suffer incapacity or death.
Reaching Agreement Outside of Court
Parents may reach agreement amongst themselves regarding child support responsibilities, instead of having a judge set the support amount. However, this agreement must then be approved by the judge, who will examine whether certain requirements are met, including whether the child's needs will be adequately met.
If you and the child's other parent prefer to reach your own agreement regarding child support, we'll guide you through the negotiation and work to strengthen the prospect of your agreement being approved.
Modifying a Child Support Order
A child support order can be modified whenever there is a change of circumstances, which typically occurs when the income of either parent changes. Alternatively, parents may settle disputes over child support and modification by agreement, although the judge retains power to modify the support.
We will assist you with any concerns you may have if you believe the current support order is no longer appropriate.
Enforcing a Child Support Order
There are many different tools available to a judge if the parent who is ordered to pay support pays less than the amount ordered or does not pay at all.
For example, the judge may order a parent to provide a child support security deposit account or a bond, to ensure that the payments will be made. Another option is to obtain an order requiring that parent's employer to withhold a certain amount of current support and back child support.
We will diligently handle your child support difficulties. As with any issue that may arise in your divorce proceedings, San Diego Law Firm will work to protect you and your family's well-being.
Related Legal Services
Our clients are also able to draw on our firm's expertise in business law, real estate, and wills and trusts, and its partners' experience in managing an independent real estate brokerage firm, to have all their divorce-related legal needs handled efficiently and in confidence within the same firm. For further information, please see our related websites:
How to Contact San Diego Law Firm
We handle matters throughout California, and new clients are always welcome. For more information or to make an appointment, please contact us either by:
Telephone: (619) 794-0243
E-mail: contactus@SanDiegoLawFirm.com
Contact Form:
You may also use the
form below to contact us. We will answer you as quickly as we can during our business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please remember that before we can become your attorneys, we must both first sign a written attorney-client agreement, so please do not email any confidential information at this point. After we have reached an agreement with you, we can then exchange information freely. We look forward to helping you.
