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San Luis Obispo Child Support Lawyer

Child Support Guidelines & Calculations in CA

In California divorces, specific guidelines are in place to provide guidance in determining the amount of child support payments. The California Superior Courts in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County are mandated to follow the California Child Support Guideline. While these guidelines are accurate in most cases, blindly following them is not a good idea. A skilled and experienced San Luis Obispo child support attorney can make certain that the right numbers are entered, the right deductions are included, and the child support guidelines make sense in your case.

At the 805 Law Group, we understand that every case is unique. We approach the issue of child support with an open mind, taking the time to review the situation at hand, including how child support interacts with child custody arrangements. You can be confident in our ability to help you achieve a fair outcome in terms of child support.

Divorce and Separation concept
Call our offices at (805) 466-4800 to learn more about child support and how we can help.

Child Support Calculation & False Numbers

In theory, each parent’s income and some other numbers can be entered into the child support formula, and an accurate amount of child support will be produced. The California Superior Court will usually just consider the information provided by the petitioner or respondent on their income and expense declaration. But what if the numbers are flawed? When one of the parents owns a business and there are questions of how much income is actually being generated, this becomes an extremely important question.

As San Luis Obispo child support lawyers, we work diligently to make sure our clients’ interests are protected in these matters. Did you and your spouse provide an accurate profit and loss statement? Have you reviewed the mandatory disclosures under San Luis Obispo Superior Court Local Rule of Court 2:8.2? This document requires 12 months of statements from all accounts, the two most recent years federal tax returns, and six months of pay stubs from your current employer, as well as all 1099s, K-1s, and W-2s from the past two years. We can help you gather this information and understand how to review cases to make certain that numbers are accurate.

How Long Must You Pay Child Support in CA?

Generally, a court will order the non-custodial parent to pay child support until they turn 18. This will be extended to 19 if the child is still in high school.

However, if the following circumstances exist, child support will end:

  • The child marries or enters a domestic partnership
  • The child joins the military
  • The child becomes emancipated
  • The child passes away

How Child Support is Linked to Child Custody

Child support is interlinked with child custody. Both numbers must be input into a Dissomaster calculation or the California Guideline Child Support Calculator, which is based on California Child Support Guidelines and can be used to estimate the amount of child support that may be ordered in your case.

For example, if both parents are contributing equal time to raising the child, the amount of child support will typically be lower. If one parent spends substantially more time with the child than the other parent, the noncustodial parent may be required to pay more in the form of child support.

It is important to note that the Court Commission or Family Law Judge will have the final authority in the determination of child support. The calculations provided here are meant to provide estimates and are not a guarantee of the final child support amount that may be awarded in your case. As such, we recommend that you connect with a San Luis Obispo child support attorney at our firm to discuss your unique situation and what may apply.

Our Child Support Services in San Luis Obispo County & California

If you have been served with an order to show cause for modification of child support or a petition to establish paternity, we can fight for your rights and get you orders that protect your income and your children’s rights. Whether the Department of Child Support Services has contacted you or you have been served with a petition and summons in a dissolution of marriage case, we can assist you in getting the right findings and orders after hearing that will assist you and your family. Contact the 805 Law Group at
Contact the 805 Law Group at (805) 466-4800 for skilled child support help.