Irvine Child Support Lawyer

Irvine Child Support Attorneys

One of the most contentious topics in all of California’s family laws is child support. As a parent, you may be concerned over the financial provisions of your child following a divorce, legal separation, or paternity issue. Regardless of whether you are the parent seeking support or the parent defending against support obligations, an Irvine child support lawyer from Minyard Morris is here to help. We have the experience necessary to offer fierce advocacy in your case.

In the state of California, both parents have a duty to care for their child’s needs, whether that child be a minor or an adult individual with a disability. Regardless of marital status, this responsibility still functions as part of the law.

If you believe you may be entitled to child support or believe that you are paying too much, the team at Minyard Morris is here to offer aggressive representation, compassionate counsel, and work to protect your rights.

What Is California Child Support?

California follows very strict guidelines as to how child support is calculated. There may be room for exceptions in certain cases; however, the typical factors considered in determining a child support award can include:

• The income of the involved parents.
• The amount of time each individual parent spends with their child.
• Any other potential factors, including the special needs of a child or that child’s standard of living.

In determining the income of the parents, the courts will examine all sources of monetary provision, including:

• Wages and any earnings from self-employment.
• Pension plans.
• Unemployment benefits.
• Workers’ compensation benefits.
• Interests from investments or business ownership.
• Disability benefits.
• Income from rental properties.
• Benefits from Social Security.
• Stock dividends.
• Lottery winnings.

The courts will then work to deduct the cost of any mandatory expenses of each parent to calculate income solely to be used for the purpose of child support. Some of these deductions might include:

• Health insurance premiums.
• Mandatory union dues.
• Already existing child support or spousal support orders.
• Any costs related to the raising of children from other relationships.
• Retirement plan contributions that are mandatory.

In addition to these considerations, the judge will look at how much time each parent spends with their child individually when making their ruling on support. If one parent spends less time with their child than the other, this parent will most likely be called upon to pay more in child support.

Minyard Morris: Protecting Your Rights in a Child Support Case

The child support system of California is complex and understanding it takes a vast knowledge of the legal terms and laws involved. At Minyard Morris (formed over 48 years ago), you won’t be getting the service of a single attorney but a team of 20 family lawyers with over 350 years of combined experience between them. We dedicate our time and resources to top-tier legal counsel and representation and are ready to protect your rights as both a parent and an individual in your support case.

When you hire the team at Minyard Morris to help you through a child support case, you can expect us to take the following actions:

• Educating you on your legal rights as a parent and the receiver or payer of the child support in question.
• Helping to identify any potential deviations or add-ons in your child care case should your needs or those of your child call for these situations.
• Assisting you in understanding how and when child support enforcement occurs, as well as moments in which seeking a modification to an existing ruling may be necessary.
• Negotiating a child support agreement with your ex and their legal team.
• When negotiations become impossible or do not provide a satisfactory outcome, our team has the resources and experience necessary to litigate your position before a judge in court.

Potential Add-Ons in California Child Support

In some cases, a judge might award a child support order with additional amounts that must be paid, otherwise known as “add-ons.” These add-ons can include childcare expenses, uninsured health costs, educational expenses, and travel costs for visitation.

FAQs

Q: What Does Child Support Cover?

A: Child support is designed to help provide for things beyond the basic needs of clothing and food. Child support is also supposed to cover items such as insured or uninsured medical bills, travel or transportation costs, entertainment expenses, education costs, college tuition and related expenses, and after-school activities and their related costs.

Q: What Are Some Reasons to Seek Modifications to Child Support?

A: There can be several reasons to seek the modification of a child support order in California, though it will be up to a judge to decide if these reasons warrant a change. The most common causes of modification to a child support ruling include a job loss or other sudden change in income, the changing health needs of the child, such as when an injury or illness is suffered, and the changing health needs of one or both of the parents.

Q: What Will a Child Support Lawyer Cost?

A: It is hard to offer a definite number as to how much a child support lawyer might charge for their services in the state of California as there are several factors that can affect these cases and the final costs of an attorney. These factors include the complexity of the case, the duration, and the overall experience of your lawyer.

Q: How Long Do Child Support Payments Last?

A: Most often, in the state of California, child support payments must be made until that child is no longer considered a minor. However, there are cases in which these payments are extended, such as in situations where an adult child is still attending high school and is not self-supporting yet or in cases where the child is an adult with a disability.

Speak to a Top-Tier Child Support Attorney Today

Regardless of your position in a child support situation, the team at Minyard Morris is here for you. We are firm believers that superior legal service starts with being proactive and working to anticipate any disputes in your support case before they arise in order to mitigate their damage to your side of the case. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation and let us help you with aggressive advocacy and compassionate counsel.