Calabasas Child Support Attorney

Comprehensive Child Support Solutions in Calabasas, CA

At Wallin Family Law, we understand that child support is an essential part of ensuring that your child’s needs are met after a separation or divorce. Child support involves a financial commitment to your child’s well-being, and it can be complicated to navigate the legal processes and guidelines that dictate this form of support. As a trusted Calabasas child support lawyer, we are here to help guide you through the complexities and ensure that your rights, as well as your child’s needs, are adequately represented.

Whether you are seeking child support or need assistance modifying an existing arrangement, our experienced attorneys are here to provide personalized legal support. This page will answer common questions about child support and give you an understanding of how child support works in California.

For more information about our legal services, call (818) 740-5865  or contact us online today.

What is Child Support?

Child support is a payment made by one parent to another for the financial support of their child after a separation, divorce, or when parents live apart. This support helps cover essential expenses related to the child's care, such as food, shelter, clothing, education, medical costs, and other basic needs. Child support is meant to ensure that both parents continue to contribute financially to their child's well-being, regardless of whether they are living together or not.

In California, the state follows specific guidelines to calculate child support. It is important to note that child support is based on the child's best interest and that both parents are legally obligated to contribute to the child’s financial needs.

Calculating Child Support in California

California uses a standardized formula to calculate child support, which takes into account several factors. Our Calabasas child support lawyer wants to ensure you have a basic understanding of how these calculations work.

The main factors that go into calculating child support include:

• Income of both parents: This includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, rental income, business income, and any other sources of income. The court will also consider the potential earning capacity of each parent if one parent is unemployed or underemployed.
• Custody arrangement: Child support is also affected by the amount of time the child spends with each parent. If one parent has primary custody, the other parent may pay higher child support. In shared custody arrangements, the support amount may be adjusted to reflect the amount of time the child spends with each parent.
• Other financial obligations: If either parent is paying support for children from other relationships or has significant debts, these may be taken into account during the calculation.
• Healthcare and insurance: The costs associated with medical and dental care, as well as health insurance coverage for the child, are also included in the child support calculation.
• Tax filing status: The number of dependents claimed on tax returns can affect the calculation of child support.

Modifying Child Support Orders

Child support orders are not set in stone. They can be modified if there has been a significant change in circumstances. Common reasons for modifying child support include:

• A significant increase or decrease in a parent’s income
• Changes in custody or visitation arrangements
• A child’s medical or educational needs change
• One parent becomes unemployed or experiences a health issue

Enforcing Child Support Orders

In some cases, a parent may fail to make the required child support payments. If you are not receiving the child support payments you are entitled to, or if you believe the amount is unfair, there are legal remedies available. The California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) can assist in enforcing child support orders by taking various actions, such as:

• Wage garnishment
• Intercepting tax refunds
• Suspension of driver’s or professional licenses
• Liens on property

Contact Wallin Family Law Today

Child support is an important matter that affects both the well-being of your child and your financial stability. At Wallin Family Law, we provide compassionate and expert legal services to ensure that child support arrangements are fair, enforceable, and in line with California’s guidelines.

If you need assistance with child support matters, contact us today at (818) 740-5865 to schedule a consultation with a Calabasas child support lawyer. Our team is ready to guide you every step of the way.