Every child deserves to be supported by both of their parents. While the court cannot require that both parents provide physical, mental, and emotional support to their child, it can require both parents to provide the financial support they need to thrive.
Whether you are divorced from your child’s other parent or have never been married to them, you may be expected to pay or receive child support.
Whichever side of the equation you find yourself on, a strong attorney can protect your best interests and do what is best for your child. Start your search with our list of Orange County child support lawyers below.
Under California law, the goal of child support is to serve the child’s best interest. The law accounts for both parents’ standard of living and attempts to equalize the child’s quality of life at both homes.
State guidelines account for a range of factors in an attempt to treat both parents fairly while doing what is right for the child. Some of the factors used to adjust child support include:
The Statewide Uniform Guideline is used to calculate child support. It accounts for how much the parents bring in together, how much disposable income the higher earning parent brings in, and how much time the higher earning parent spends with the child. As the higher earning parent spends more time with the child, their child support contribution decreases.
While the court does use this calculation, there are situations where it’s appropriate to deviate from the final number. It’s important to talk to an attorney about your child support case to find out if your case falls outside standard parameters.
Circumstances change, and when they do, your child support order may no longer be appropriate. In order to request a modification or termination of child support, a parent must prove that the situation has changed enough to warrant a modification. Examples include:
After reviewing the information, the court will determine whether or not to change the order and how much to change it. Note that the court does not consider who is filing when looking at the evidence. It is entirely possible for one parent to request a modification, only to have it modified in the other parent’s favor. Talking to an attorney about your options can save you stress, time, and money.
If child support has been weighing heavy on your mind, let a child support attorney in Orange County guide you through the process. Explore our list of lawyers and start contacting those near you.