Child support is determined by a ‘guideline formula’ using a computer program. Often child support litigation concerns what income to use for both parents for the purposes of calculating child support. These numbers are put into a computer program that generates a child support amount.
The unfortunate reality is that much of the time the ‘guideline formula’ really does not provide enough for a parent to raise a child in most of Los Angeles County, and can generate a windfall to the parent paying child support. Other times, it can financially crush the parent paying child support, especially if not based on the true incomes.
If you need child (or spousal) support, or need to modify your child (or spousal) support order, you cannot wait, and must file an application with the court immediately. Each month that you wait is likely another month of support you will not receive, or another month of overpaying support that the court cannot retroactively modify.
Sometimes the child support portion of a case can be cost effectively handled by the County of Los Angeles, especially for parents earning only fully-reported W2 income.
“Much of the time the child support ‘guideline formula’ really does not provide enough for a parent to raise a child in most of Los Angeles County, and can generate a windfall to the parent paying child support.”