How A Child Support Attorney Can Help
California courts take a variety of factors into account when establishing child support, including parents’ after-tax income, healthcare and daycare expenses, current commitments, extraneous circumstances such as unexpected hardship, and more.
A skilled attorney can help ensure that your circumstances are represented fairly, and that your interests are protected every step of the way.
In addition, even when a child support plan has been established, future complications can arise.
Perhaps a parent is missing payments, or circumstances have changed dramatically and the previously established amount of child support is no longer adequate.
Our lawyers in San Francisco can walk you through any type of child support enforcement or modification procedure and guarantee that your rights, as well as those of your loved ones, are preserved.
As trusted and reputable child support attorneys in San Francisco, we at Fenchel Family Law PC are qualified to assist you with all child custody matters.
Our attorneys can help you with the following, and more:
- Establishing child support
- Establishing child support credit
- Negotiating lower/higher payments
- The modification of child support payments
- Formal legal stipulations or agreements between parties
California Child Support FAQ
Child support laws in California are complex, and we at Fenchel Family Law PC are frequently asked a variety of questions about this topic.
While every case is different, there are a few sets of questions that always crop up, and we thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the answers to those questions.
How is Child Support Determined?
The simple answer is that this is based on statewide guidelines which employ a complicated formula. Factors that go into this formula include number of children involved, the income level of each parent, the amount of time that each child spends with each parent, and more.
This means that every case is very different, and a concrete answer can only be provided once this formula has been crunched by the courts.
Are There Limits on Child Support Amounts?
Many states have a cap on child support amounts, but California is not one of those states.
This means that there is no limit, and all determined amounts are presumed to be perfectly valid. There are a few rare instances where the courts might deviate from this, but this is hardly ever the case.
Usually courts uphold arrangements, even if they notably improve the quality of life of the parent with the lower level of income.
What If the Parent Is Not Using Payments On the Children?
This is a very common question, but unfortunately the law does not take this factor into account, so it does not matter.
The rationale behind this is that costs incurred by the parent, such as housing and bills, are for the benefit of the children as well, and even if the payments you send aren’t used specifically for these types of costs, the parent still has to pay childcare and other expenses from somewhere.
How Long Does a Parent Have to Pay Child Support in California?
According to California law, a parent has to pay child support until the child turns 18 years old or 19 unmarried, still attending high school full time. After that, only under particular circumstances will the court order child support to continue after the child is an adult.
Should I Hire An Attorney For Child Support?
If your situation involves domestic violence, orders for protection, or other court orders, it would be a good idea to hire a child support attorney. Having experienced legal guidance moves the procedure quicker and gives you a stronger chance to win the case you want.
Contact Our Experienced Attorneys Today
For all your child support needs, as well as any other issues relating to family law, know that you can rely on the family law attorneys at Fenchel Family Law PC.
Call us today at (415) 805-9069 to schedule a consultation, and learn more about how our San Francisco lawyers can help you achieve your goals.