Estimate Your California Child Support in Minutes
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Get a confidential estimate based on
California Family Code in under a minute.
California Child Support Calculator
Estimate based on common CA guideline heuristics. For informational purposes only.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Results may differ based on judicial findings and individual circumstances.
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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
Child Support in California
Discover what you need to know about Child Support Laws in California.
California uses a statewide guideline formula under Family Code § 4055.
Both parents’ gross incomes
Parenting Time
Each parent’s proportional share of the combined income
Use the Deliberately.ai California child support calculator above for an estimate, but only a court order is legally binding.
Child support amounts depend on income, parenting time, tax considerations, health insurance costs, work-related childcare, and hardship deductions. Disputed income or custody can significantly complicate calculations.
There is no standard amount. Child support varies based on income and parenting time under California’s guideline formula. Use the Deliberately.ai calculator above to estimate your obligation or entitlement before filing or negotiating.
Child support typically ends at age 18. If the child is still a full-time high school student and not self-supporting, support may continue until graduation or age 19, whichever occurs first.
Disability cases may follow different rules.
Not always. Child support does not automatically terminate in every case. Formal legal steps may be required to stop wage withholding or enforcement.
Yes. A child support order can be modified when there is a material change in circumstances, such as income changes or adjusted parenting time. Modifications usually apply going forward only.
Uncontested modifications may take weeks or a few months. Contested cases involving self-employment income, custody disputes, or income imputation often take longer.
Only if the court includes those costs in the guideline calculation. Paying medical expenses alone does not automatically reduce child support without court approval.
California starts with gross income, including wages, bonuses, commissions, rental income, and self-employment earnings. Courts may impute income if a parent is underemployed or income is inconsistent.
Unpaid child support may lead to wage garnishment, tax refund interception, license suspensions, liens, and other enforcement actions. Arrears can grow quickly.
Child support arrears do not expire and remain enforceable until paid in full. Interest may accrue, and collection may continue even after the child reaches adulthood.
In certain cases, willful nonpayment may result in criminal charges. These situations are fact-specific and require legal advice from a experience family lawyer from California.
Yes. Wage withholding is standard in California. Other enforcement tools may be used depending on the case. Access to bank accounts or retirement funds is highly case-specific.
It can. Parenting time is a key factor in California’s formula, but income differences still matter. Even with joint custody, support may still be owed.
Support may continue for an adult child with a qualifying disability. Court-ordered college support is not automatic in California.
No. Parents cannot privately waive court-ordered child support. Any change must be approved by the court and comply with California law.
A lawyer is not required for basic cases, but legal guidance is strongly recommended for disputes involving income, custody, arrears, or deviations from guideline support.
For an initial estimate, you can use the Deliberately.ai child support calculator above.
Common documents include proof of income, tax returns, existing court orders, and records for health insurance and childcare. Missing documents often cause delays.
Child support cases can be filed through California family courts or local child support agencies. If income, custody, or paternity is contested, speaking with a California family lawyer first can help avoid costly errors.
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