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California Child Support Laws
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Uniform child support guidelines in California are intended to ensure adequate support for children whose parents do not live together. The paying parent's net spendable income (after taxes, Social Security, health insurance, pension and other deductions) is the most important figure in the calculation of support in California. The California child support guideline also considers the income of the custodial parent and the amount of time the other parent spends with the children. There are many deductions and loopholes a lawyer can spot that will save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to the paying parent and bring in hundreds, if not thousands to the parent receiving support.

The Loopholes
Calculating the child support guidelines in California requires a computer. The formula is difficult and includes computation of the federal and state income taxes, tax deductions, hardships, Social Security, disability, and accounts for the percentage of time the non-custodial (paying parent) spends with the child.

Deductions and tax strategies are crucial to the computation of guideline child support amounts in California. Careful planning and legal sophistication can make a large different either way in the ultimate result of the child support.

Parents receiving support, and county California Family Support Divisions collecting support and welfare reimbursement, are entitled to 10% interest by law on any overdue amounts (arrears) of support by California Law.

Calculate Your Child Support Guidelines in California
Using a credit card, pre pay to calculate your California child support guideline amount. After payment you will be prompted to enter your information online, including your choice of receiving your payment calculation via email or regular mail.

This California child support calculator service includes a 15 minute telephone consultation with Robert Kroll.

Can Interest Be Charged on Child Support Arrears?
Ten percent interest can be charged on child support arrears from the date each payment was due and unpaid. Only simple interest, not compound interest, may be charged. Payments on arrears are first applied to the interest on the earliest overdue payment. Interest is seldom waived by the office except in exceptional situations. Armed services personnel can only be charged eight percent. In welfare reimbursement cases, the monthly payment may be much less than the guideline.

The California state legislature offered a "compromise of arrears" program 2002 to eliminate interest on arrears. After January 2003, all that stopped.

Do They Have To Tell You About The Interest?
No. Ignorance of the law does not excuse much, and it never excuses interest.

What If The Other Party Is Lying?
A party can lie, and many do, even under oath. Such lies amount to "perjury", a crime. Will they be punished? Rarely. Do we use their lies against them? Frequently.

How Long Will It Take?
Any time there is a change of financial or parenting circumstances, child support can be modified, upward or downward. We can prepare papers within a week to get you into court within three or four weeks to make the change. The change is effective on the date we file papers for the change.

Why hire a lawyer?
Years of experience in calculating child support guidelines in California enables the lawyer to find all allowable deductions and negotiate the lowest payment for the paying parent, and to obtain the highest amount for the parent receiving support. Often, a California family lawyer can improve your financial situation by more than the legal fees in the first year alone, and child support may be payable for eighteen or more years.

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