Child Support Lawyer in Chico

Fighting for the Rights of Parents & Their Children

All parents are required by law to meet their children’s financial needs. When you are going through a divorce or legal separation, determining how a child will be supported is a predominant concern. Seeking the help of a qualified California child support attorney can help ensure a fair child support agreement.

Fawne Gray Attorney at Law offers years of experience in the practice of family law and the handling of child support cases in Chico and the surrounding areas. Our Chico child support lawyer is committed to the protection of your and your child’s rights throughout your divorce.

How does child support work in California?

The state of California has guidelines that must be followed when determining the amount of child support that is allotted. The judge has to evaluate the child support based on certain factors such as:

• Income
• Percentage of time that each parent spends with the child
• Number of children

These factors are typically calculated on a program used by the court to determine the amount of child support required from the parent.

Can child support be waived in California?

You cannot waive child support in California because it is not in the best interest of the child. Children are dependent on their parents for care until they become adults, and this support requires money. If you decide to waive your child’s support, you are waiving their care, best interests and denying his or her constitutional right to support.

Understanding Child Support in California

The court presumes that each parent will contribute financially to the upbringing of their child. Child support is a monthly payment that parents make to help cover the costs of raising a child. Typically, the parent who has less parenting time, or the non-custodial parent, makes payments to the custodial parent. Sometimes, the court chooses to order both parents to pay child support.

The general stipulation is that parents must pay child support until the child turns 18.

Exceptions to this rule include:

• Support may continue until the child turns 19, so long as the child is still in high school and lives with a parent
• Support may continue for a longer period of time if parents choose to do so
• Support may continue indefinitely if the child is unable to become self-supporting due to a disability
• Support may end early if the child marries or registers a domestic partnership
• Support may end early if the child joins the military
• Support may end early if the child becomes self-supporting

Calculating Child Support Payments

In California, child support is based on a statewide guideline. Calculating payments is often a complex process and is best handled by an experienced child support attorney.

Child support payments are determined by considering a number of factors including:

• The number of children
• The income of each parent
• The parenting time of each parent
• The parents' tax filing statuses
• The parents' tax-deductible expenses

Connect with Our Child Support Attorney Today

When you hire Fawne Gray Attorney at Law, our Chico child support lawyer will ensure that the court gets an accurate picture of your and your spouse’s financial situation and the particular needs of your child.

We believe that your child’s welfare is a top priority, and that is why we are committed to aggressively fighting for your child’s best interests.