California Child Support

Can an Uncontested Divorce Still Affect Child Support?

Child Support in California: An uncontested divorce moves through the court system much more quickly and less expensively than contested divorces; in California, a couple can decide on matters including arrangements for the division of shared property and real estates, custody, and child support independent of the court. This is much, much easier said than done; while most couples do not contest the reason for the divorce, it can certainly be difficult to find middle ground concerning other issues. How does the so-called “friendly” divorce affect support?

How Child Support Enforcement Works

Dishon & Block - Los Angeles, California Family Law Attorney
Parents are legally obligated to provide for their children financially, even, and especially, after a relationship with the other parent ends. According to the US Census Bureau, less than half of all custodial mothers and custodial fathers receive all of the support they are owed; about 75 percent receive some or partial payments. Child support, like custody and other issues relating to the dissolution of a marriage, can be contentious, and sometimes it is necessary for a parent to take child support enforcement measures. How does this work?

What Can You Do if Your Spouse Doesn’t Pay Child Support?

Often, divorce can trigger or exacerbate financial difficulties, particularly for the parent who has primary custody and responsibility for the children involved in the relationship. While parents may be separated, each is still responsible for the financial upbringing and wellbeing of the child; this is true whether or not the other parent sees the child or has physical or legal custody at all. Once you have a child, you are responsible for him/her until adulthood unless parental rights are terminated (which is relatively rare). Support payments are oftentimes essential for parents to attend to basic needs and ensure their children are taken care of. So what happens when your ex-partner does not pay child support?

Spousal Support Calculator

Divorce is bound to pull on your emotions and create difficulties that you may not quite be sure how to handle. One thing’s for sure, though; you don’t have to pay more spousal support than you legally need to. Unfortunately, many people fall victim to paying too much support for too long a period because the either have poor legal counsel or they don’t know their rights.

California state law is very clear on spousal support, within certain guidelines. In fact, the state uses a standard calculation to determine support payments. To help you assess your possible support payments, Dishon & Block provides an on-line Child & Spousal Support Calculator. This client resource is a powerful, proprietary tool to help you determine the money you might owe or be owed as a result of divorce.

How does Family Law in CA cover the children’s interests?

Divorce is difficult enough when it concerns consenting adults. When children are involved, who have no say in the matter and may not know why their parents are divorcing, it is even more difficult. In such cases, the divorcing spouses must proceed with care to not cause additional harm to their children.

It is not uncommon for children to feel as if they are responsible for their family breaking up. Also, many children feel confused and unloved during such times because both parents are not paying as much attention to them and also saying negative things about their other parent.

What are current California Family Law specs?

To be granted divorce in California you must fulfill certain “residency requirements.” You or your spouse must have resided in the state for a minimum of the previous six months. What’s more, you or your spouse is required to have lived in the country in which you are filing, for at least the previous three months.

While you or your spouse may claim reasons for the filing of divorce, in California you do not have to do this. You can reduce the stress of divorce by claiming, “irreconcilable differences.” In the end, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is that the marriage is ending; only that it end as quickly and painlessly as possible for all parties involved.

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