Santa Clarita Child Support Lawyer 

Guiding Parents Through the Valencia, Newhall, and Castaic Legal Systems Since 1997

At the Law Offices of Steven B. Chroman, P.C., we take a two-prong approach to our legal practice that involves: (1) educating parents on the legal system pertaining to their situation, and (2) representing parents in negotiation and litigation. We will equip you with the legal understanding to navigate your child support negotiations and ensure you are putting your needs and interests at the forefront of your discussions. Whether you seek to estimate a child support payment amount or modify an existing order, we can help you.

Schedule an initial consultation with the Law Offices of Steven B. Chroman, P.C. to learn more. Call (661) 228-6072 or contact us online today.

Calculating Child Support

Child support orders usually last until the child turns 18 years old or 19 years old if they are still a full-time high school student. California determines the child support amount based on an income-based guidelines. More specifically, to determine the amount of child support, the court will look at:

• how much money the parents earn or have the ability to earn;
• how much other income each parent receives (e.g., alimony or unemployment benefits);
• how many children the parents have together;
• how much time each parent spends with their children;
• each parent’s tax filing status;
• whether the parent supports any children from other relationships;
• health insurance expenses;
• Mandatory union dues;
• mandatory retirement contributions;
• the cost of sharing daycare and uninsured health-care costs; and
• other relevant factors.

Note that the amount of child support a parent is ordered to pay usually decreases as time-share increases.

A support order may also require the parents to share the costs for certain things like traveling between the parents, childcare to allow for the custodial parent to obtain work or educational skills for employment, and reasonable healthcare expenses.

Keep in mind that while the guidelines above may determine the support amount, parents can also agree to a different amount of child support as long as the court approves that the child’s needs are met. Our team at the Law Offices of Steven B. Chroman, P.C. can help you calculate a guideline child support order.