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Child Support Factors & Considerations
Learn about the various factors that can affect child support determinations by using the navigation menu on this page. Life situations such as income, insurance, hardships, and more play an important role in the calculation of child support. If you have more questions or concerns, call our firm today at (626) 788-9864!
Basis for Child Support
California Family Code Section 4053 sets forth the following principles to be adhered to in determining guideline child support:
(a) A parent's first and principal obligation is to support his or her minor children according to the parent's circumstances and station in life.
(b) Both parents are mutually responsible for the support of their children.
(c) The guideline takes into account each parent's actual income and level of responsibility for the children.
(d) Each parent should pay for the support of the children according to his or her ability.
(e) The guideline seeks to place the interests of children as the state's top priority.
(f) Children should share in the standard of living of both parents. Child support may therefore appropriately improve the standard of living of the custodial household to improve the lives of the children.
(g) Child support orders in cases in which both parents have high levels of responsibility for the children should reflect the increased costs of raising the children in two homes and should minimize significant disparities in the children's living standards in the two homes.
(h) The financial needs of the children should be met through private financial resources as much as possible.
(i) It is presumed that a parent having primary physical responsibility for the children contributes a significant portion of available resources for the support of the children.
(j) The guideline seeks to encourage fair and efficient settlements of conflicts between parents and seeks to minimize the need for litigation.
(k) The guideline is intended to be presumptively correct in all cases, and only under special circumstances should child support orders fall below the child support mandated by the guideline formula.
(l) Child support orders must ensure that children actually receive fair, timely, and sufficient support reflecting the state's high standard of living and high costs of raising children compared to other states.
As set forth in the above principles, the Court is not overly concerned with your other expenses (just bought a car or have a large unpaid student loan) and both parents share equally in this financial undertaking to raise a child from birth through the graduation of high school. Finally, it is the public policy of the State of California that parents should be financially responsible for their own children rather than the children relying on public assistance.
This book, written By Paul A. Eads, helps readers know how to prepare before they initiate a legal endeavor and helps make the legal terms of family law issues easier to understand.
Client Testimonials
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"Mr. Eads, you are a true master in your field and I will always be available should any of your prospective clients want to contact me as a reference."Mr. Eads, you are a true master in your field.- Peter K.
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"Mr. Eads worked hard for me and I am confident he will do the same for you."My ex boyfriend was very abusive. His attorney seemed to be very aggressive and was always filing Ex Parte (emergency) hearings for me to appear in court. Due to a cost issue, I attempted to handle matters myself but it seemed that I could not get my point accrues to the judge who seemed to be familiar with my ex boyfriend’s attorney. I found Mr. Eads in the phonebook and I thought I would give him a call. Mr. Eads was able to get the restraining order I was seeking and my ex boyfriend ended up paying Mr. Eads’ attorney fees. I can now feel rest-assured that my daughter and I will be safe. I also happy that I do not have to deal with my ex’s attorney anymore. Mr. Eads worked hard for me and I am confident he will do the same for you.- K.Y.
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"He was very sympathetic to my cause and was very reassuring when I needed his assistance."I was very pleased with the outcome of my case.- Albert N.
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"I was barely able to make ends meet. Mr. Eads worked out a payment plan with me and reduced my arrears."I will be able to pay it off quicker and with more money left over with the payment Mr. Eads was able to negotiate for me.- John H.
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"The outcome was much more than I ever expected to receive."My previous attorney failed to show up for my court date and as a result, the matter was set for trial without any input from my side. I desperately sought out an attorney but most of them wanted a huge retainer up front. I found Mr. Eads and when I went in for a consultation, I found that his retainer was more than reasonable. I also liked the fact that he practices exclusively family law and seems very familiar with the local judicial officers. I felt very comfortable with Mr. Eads in my corner going into my trial and I found that the outcome was much more than I ever expected to receive. Mr. Eads was very thorough in my case evaluation and helped me get everything I was entitled to.- J.L.
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"Mr. Eads when to bat for me and in my opinion, hit a home run."I decided to hire Mr. Eads based on his experience and the fact that his practice is limited to Family Law.- Veronica S.
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"Mr. Eads was able to help structure a settlement that allowed me to keep my business while sharing the business debts with my ex."I am a business owner and when I got divorced, I was terrified that I would lose my business. My business was also heavily leveraged against and I did not have enough capitol to sustain the business and pay my wife spousal support. My ex had an attorney who was very intimidating and kept pressuring me to liquidate the business so that I could pay his attorney’s fees. I was referred to Mr. Eads by a friend. Mr. Eads was able to help structure a settlement that allowed me to keep my business while sharing the business debts with my ex. I was also able to shorten my spousal support obligation. I really appreciate Mr. Eads professionalism and guidance during these difficult times.- J.A.
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"Not only did Mr. Eads get my daughter returned to me, I was able to have full physical custody."I am honored to write this review for Mr. Eads after he helped reunify me with my daughter after my ex abducted her and moved to Arizona. I was devastated when I came home from work to find my ex had left with all our daughter’s belongings. I called the police who told me I needed to hire an attorney. I came across Mr. Eads’ website and I was impressed with his bio. I contacted him immediately and within days, we were in court requesting that my the DA Abduction unit assist me in the return of my daughter. Not only did Mr. Eads get my daughter returned to me, I was able to have full physical custody and my ex has summer and holiday visitation. Mr. Eads is truly my hero. Thanks Mr. Eads!- Paul W.