California family courts look at two factors when calculating child support:
1. Each parent’s income
2. Time spent by each parent with the child/children (called the “J” Factor)
Additional factors that can impact child support amounts include child care expenses, home mortgage payments, tax filing status, and other costs that determine the family’s financial situation.
Use our California Child Support Calculator to verify that you aren’t paying too much in support.
All California judges and courts follow the same guidelines when calculating child support. Because this formula is so complicated, the court depends on a computer program called a DissomasterTM to calculate monthly child support amounts. You and your spouse are responsible for providing the information input into this program, but a family law attorney will negotiate certain items with your spouse to ensure the proper child and/or spousal support is received each month.
All California judges and courts follow the same guidelines when calculating child support.
Child support continues until the child is 18. If you feel your child support amounts should be re-calculated before this time, there are California family law firms, such as Bohm Wildish , that can assist in that process. Read more about Child Support Modification.