Child Support Lawyers Orange County California

One of the most frequently asked questions in a divorce with minor children is whether or not child custody affects child support.  The answer is, yes.  However, many mistakenly believe that if they get more than 50% physical custody of a minor child, they will not have to pay child support at all.  There are times when this is true and there are cases when it is not true. There are many factors that will determine the amount of child support and who will be ordered to pay.  You need to have the Dissomaster formula run by child support lawyers.  Orange County California courts mainly utilize and follow the guidelines of the Dissomaster formula.  What is the Dissomaster formula?   Well, unless you helped formulate it, the exact mathematical formulation is complex to understand and explain, even for some child support lawyers.  Orange County, California judges do follow the guidelines of the formula to come to a child support order.  You will need to understand that the results will vary depending on many financial and custody factors.

So, the first thing that your attorney will need from you is your income information in order to run the formula.  The next important factor is the percentage of time that you and your spouse will share the minor children.  Visitation can be divided any way the parties want.  However, it is not always easy to agree.  If the parties cannot agree to a visitation plan the next thing that you need to do is consult with child support lawyers.  Orange County California family court requires the parties to attend mediation before the Judge will hold a hearing regarding custody and visitation issues.

Mediation is a meeting between both parties and a professional mediator.  The mediator will assist the parties to come to an agreement regarding visitation with the minor child or children.  If the parties cannot agree to custody and visitation, the mediator will report to the Court that the parties could not come to an agreement.  The mediator only handles the custody and visitation issues of a divorce proceeding.  They will not discuss child support with you.  The Court will then allow a hearing and give the parties a chance to testify.  Then the Judge will make interim custody and visitation orders.  This interim visitation order will be plugged into the Dissomaster formula along with the income information of both parties to come to an interim child support order.

Yes, you may be able to change the child support order at the end of the divorce proceeding.  If your income changes or the Court changes the custody and visitation orders the amount of child support will change in the Dissomaster.  Now, just because you get more than 50% of time with your children, doesn’t mean you will pay nothing.  If your income is much higher than your spouse’s income, you will still be paying child support.

If you are looking for top child support lawyers in Orange County California, please give us a call at 1-800-784-6670 or complete the contact form above, and we would be very happy to help you attain your goals!