How Is Child Support Calculated?
California has a statewide formula (called a "guideline") for figuring out how much child support should be paid.
If parents can't agree on child support, the judge will decide the child support amount based on the calculation guidelines.
A program called the DissoMaster™ is a widely used tool to estimate child support in the State of California. It has been used in the California judicial system for over 20 years. The DissoMaster was created by attorneys. It adheres to the guidelines specified in the California Family Law Code.
The guideline calculation depends on:
- How much money the parents earn or can earn
- How much other income each parent receives
- How many children these parents have together
- How much time each parent spends with their children
- The actual tax filing status of each parent
- Support of children from other relationships
- Health insurance expenses
- Mandatory union dues
- Mandatory retirement contributions
- The cost of sharing daycare and uninsured health-care costs
- The needs of the child
- Other factors
California Child support can also include the cost of special needs like:
- Traveling for visitation from one parent to another
- Educational expenses
- Other special needs
Child Support Calculator
A rough estimate of child support can be created using our child support calculator.
You can also review the California Guideline Child Support Calculator.
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