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Cerritos Child Support Lawyers
Providing Clients With Quality Legal Representation for All Their Family Law Matters
Child support payments are typically one of the most hotly contested family law issues. Often, the debate over child support is a spillover from when parents ended their marriage or relationship.
Child support conflicts often lead to arguments that former couples cannot settle independently. California child support guidelines can be confusing for those who lack legal training to try and navigate without the help of an attorney.
Therefore, anyone dealing with child support legal issues must have an experienced child support lawyer who will advocate on their behalf.
The Law Offices of Paul J. Duron, located in Cerritos, CA, has extensive experience helping individuals with child support agreements. Our experienced child support attorneys can help you with your legal needs to ensure that your rights and those of your children are protected.
Contact our Southern California law firm to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation to determine how we may assist you with your child support case.
How are Child Support Payments Determined in Southern California?
Under California law, child support payments are calculated using a complex mathematical formula. The estimated payment amount is determined largely based on the number of children, the higher-earning parent’s net monthly disposable income, and the time spent with the child. However, the total monthly disposable income of the other parent is also factored into the equation.
In cases involving multiple children, specific multipliers are used to determine child support calculations.
However, some parents can agree on child support payments without involving family courts. Suppose parents mutually agree to more or less child support. In that case, the California guideline requires a family law judge to review the amount to ensure that it adequately provides for the child and is fair to both parties.
If you have questions about determining California child support, it is always best to consult a knowledgeable child support attorney who can answer your questions.
Contact our law firm to schedule a meeting with an experienced child support attorney who will provide you with more information.
What Qualifications are Necessary to Obtain a Child Support Modification?
California does allow child support modifications to be granted if specific circumstances apply. A modification may increase or lower child support payments depending on the conditions associated with the case.
Some of the legally accepted grounds for requesting a child support modification include:
- A change in financial circumstances: A change may include the loss of a job, making it challenging for a parent to meet their child support obligation. Conversely, if the paying parent obtains a new job with higher pay than their previous job, the custodial parent may be able to request an increase.
- A change in the child’s needs: Additional expenses, including increased educational and childcare costs or new healthcare, could increase support payments.
- Custody or visitation changes: If there has been a change in child custody agreements or revisions to parenting plans or visitation schedules, a parent may have grounds to ask for an increase or decrease in child support payments.
- Remarriage: If either parent remarries, this could be legal grounds for the other parent to request a child support modification. However, the new spouse cannot be legally obligated to pay child support payments for a child that is not theirs.
Some other legal grounds for requesting a modification include disability, where a parent no longer has the financial resources to pay child support or active military deployment which may complicate the paying parent’s ability to make timely support payments. Finally, if either individual has more biological or adopted children, it could facilitate a reduction in support payments.
Case involving modifications can be overly complex and require the help of a family law attorney who will act as your legal liaison with child support services to ensure your rights are protected.
How Long Do Parents Have to Pay Child Support Obligations?
Under state law, child support orders are enforceable until a child turns 18 or 19 if the child is still attending high school full-time and unmarried.
However, the court may consider special circumstances that may result in the paying parent being ordered to continue making child support payments.
California is tough on parents who refuse to pay child support payments. Some of the legal consequences of not paying a child support payment include:
- Driver’s license suspension.
- Suspension of professional licenses
- Suspension of passport
- Seizing tax refunds or insurance payments for missed child support payments.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, the court may find the paying parent in contempt of a court order, which could result in jail time.
If you have questions about how long a child support agreement can be enforced, contact The Law Offices of Paul J. Duron to speak with a Los Angeles child support attorney.
Why Should I Choose Your Child Support Attorneys to Represent Me?
The Law Offices of Paul J. Duron has a well-earned reputation for being able to help clients with child support cases.
Our child support attorneys have in-depth experience helping clients with disputes related to child support obligations or needing to request a modification due to a change in their financial circumstances.
Our dedicated team of child support attorneys realizes that circumstances often change for the custodial or paying parent, which may require a change in support payments.
However, child support arrears are not subject to modification, and any missed payments fall under the previous guidelines.
Our law firm can assist you if you need to seek enforcement or need advice on starting to receive child support payments.
Regardless of your needs, our legal team will fight vigorously to help you receive the help you deserve. Contact The Law Offices of Paul J. Duron of Cerritos, CA, at 562-205-8527 to schedule a free consultation so that we may determine your legal needs.
