When parents decide to separate or divorce, it is important to understand how much they will be required to pay for child support. All parents are required to provide financial support for their children, whether they are married or not. To help parents determine the correct amount of child support under California’s child support guidelines, the state has provided an online child support calculator. Here are some tips for using this tool to calculate your child support payments:
What Documents Should Be Included When Calculating Child Support?
Calculating child support is different in each situation. However, there are several documents which parents can compile that are useful when determining child support. These documents can include tax returns, paycheck stubs, and W2 or 1099 forms, as well as any documents that provide details about:
Health insurance premiumsDisability or unemployment benefitsChild care expensesRetirement contributionsJob-related expensesSpousal support from a previous marriageHealth care expensesChild support paid for children of previous relationships
Consistency is Key
When using the calculator, a parent should include all relevant information about both parent and the children the parents have in common. In the calculator, parents will be referred to as Parent 1 and Parent 2. Either parent can be Parent 1, but it may be easier to assign Parent 1 to the non-custodial parent. To be consistent and accurate, make sure Parent 1 and Parent 2 refer to the same parents whenever entering information into the calculator.
When parents have more than one child in common, children are referred as First-Born, Second-Born, etc. in the calculator. It is important to enter information about children into the calculator consistently, using information about the oldest child the parents have in common for the First-Born child, information about the second oldest child for the Second-Born child, and so on. If certain fields in the calculator do not apply to your situation, these fields should be left blank.
Results of the Calculator
After entering all the required information into the calculator, it will return results that include the total amount of support that one parent will pay to the other, as well as a breakdown of the amount of child support for each child, each parent’s monthly income, and any deductions that factored into the calculation. These numbers are an estimate of actual child support amounts, and the final child support payment amounts will be determined by the court and included in the parent’s divorce judgment.
Call a San Jose Child Support Attorney
Going through the challenges of divorce can be frustrating, but it is important to determine the correct amount of child support according to California statutes. At Dominion Law Group, LLP, we have over 28 years of experience in family law and divorce, and we are ready to assist you with your case, ensuring that your children will receive the financial support they need. For a free initial consultation, please call a Santa Clara County child support lawyer at 408-288-5592.
Sources:
http://www.childsup.ca.gov/resources/calculatechildsupport.aspx
http://www.childsup.ca.gov/portals/0/resources/docs/gdlncalculator.pdf
