California Attorney for Family Support Obligations
California's family courts have the right to impose the ongoing, regular financial obligations concerning child support and spousal support in certain circumstances. These support obligations typically cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, and there are serious penalties for not meeting them.
It is important that you make certain child and spousal support obligations are being set fairly. An experienced family law attorney can help. Contact me to schedule a free initial consultation at one of my offices in Encino or the Santa Clarita Valley.
Examining All Relevant Child Support Issues
In California, child support is calculated during divorce, paternity or modification proceedings using a formula established by statute. This formula is designed in an attempt to give children the same level of support they would receive if their parents were living together in a single household.
Determining child support, therefore, is a matter of factoring all of the relevant information, taking care to ensure that the numbers are accurate. I can help you sort out issues such as:
- Determination of each spouse's monthly income
- The duty to maintain health insurance
- The impact of child custody and visitation
- The effect of remarriage on support duties
- The effect of changes in either spouse's income
- Tax deductions for child support
If the underlying circumstances for you, your spouse, or your child have changed, you can get a child support order modified. It is important to make such changes official through the court. I can also represent you in a child support enforcement case. While the Department of Child Support Services handles some aspects of enforcement, it is usually important for each side to have a lawyer representing their interests.
Determining Whether You Owe or Are Entitled to Alimony
Spousal support — also known as alimony — is sometimes but not always granted during the divorce process, especially if the marriage lasted for 10 years or longer. Support can also be granted during the dissolution of a domestic partnership under the proper circumstances.
I can help you understand the factors involved in determining whether you or your spouse deserves spousal support and pursue a fair outcome. Contact me to learn more.
