Support Calculations
For couples facing divorce, the amount of child and spousal support or alimony they will receive or will need to provide is a top concern.
In California, both child and spousal support are calculated based on income, employment, and other factors. To navigate within the legal guidelines, ambiguities, special circumstances, and individual concerns, people require the expertise of an experienced child / spousal support attorney. Our attorneys are available to advise you on your options and help negotiate a fair resolution for your family.
“Our attorneys can advise you on your support options and help negotiate a fair resolution for your family.”
Determining Spousal Support
A spousal support award, sometimes known as alimony, is made on the basis of several factors, including but not limited to:
- Respective incomes of the parties
- Relative education levels
- Relative health
- Standard of living of the parties
- Duration of the marriage
- Retirement benefits
- Tax consequences of an award
- Other factors that the court deems relevant and equitable
We have litigated many spousal support cases. The firm has experience representing both the potential payor and payee in spousal support cases and has a reputation for achieving the most beneficial results possible for our clients.
Determining Child Support
Child support is the amount of money the court orders one parent to pay the other parent every month for the support of the child(ren). California has a formula (called a “guideline”) for figuring out how much child support should be paid in all cases.
Child support payments are usually made until children reach the age of 18, or turn 19 if they are still in high school full time, living at home, and can’t support themselves. However, parents may agree to support a child longer. The court may also order that both parents continue to support a disabled adult child that is not self-supporting.
Although child support is based on guidelines set forth in the California Family Code, there are many factors that can affect the ultimate amount of support. Understanding the nuances of child support laws can often help either the payor or the payee benefit from child support litigation. We educate our clients in order to make the child and spousal support laws work for them.
Additional Information
If you are in the Los Angeles or Orange County area, please contact us to request a consultation. One of our attorneys will speak with you about your case and about California spousal and child support.
You may also use our child and spousal support calculator to gauge what you might pay or to see if you are currently paying too much. Also, learn about modifying current child and spousal support payments.