Child support is determined by a guideline formula using a computer program called XSpouse. Often child support litigation concerns what income to use for both parents for the purposes of calculating child support. These numbers are put into the XSpouse program that generates a monthly 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.
The main variables are your income, the other parent’s income, the number of children, timeshare, and other tax variables that reduce or increase your taxes.
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.
I also assist Parents in County of Los Angeles child support cases where the County of Los Angeles is seeking child support from one parent for the benefit of the other parent (or to recover government assistance payments the other parent is receiving).
If you would like to discuss your a range of what the guideline child support number could be for your case based on the specific facts of your case, please set up a consultation.
“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.”