Child Support

What is “guideline child support” and how do I find out how San Diego courts make “guideline” calculations?

“Guideline child support” refers to the assumed amount of a parent’s legal obligation to contribute to the economic maintenance and education of a child. This assumed amount of child support is defined by statute and considers who is the custodial parent, how much time the child spends with each parent and the various assets and liabilities of the parties. To get an idea of how guideline support calculations work, visit the link below. As the website says, “The California Guideline Child Support Calculator is based on California Child Support Guidelines and can be used to estimate the amount of child support that may be ordered in your case.” As with most things in the law, a court can adjust the guideline support payments to fairly account for the specific facts in a case.

https://www.cse.ca.gov/ChildSupport/cse/guidelineCalculator#

Because guideline support payments require a solid understanding of tax and accounting issues, it is usually a good idea to consult an attorney if you are a party to a matter involving child support.