Los Angeles Divorce Law Blog

Coming to terms with a custody determination can be challenging, even for parents who part ways amicably. For those who end their relationship with a significant amount of acrimony, adjusting to a child custody change can be even more difficult. It's imperative for California parents to understand, however, that impulsive decisions can have lasting ramifications. 

An example is found in the case of a man who chose to pick up his son from school without permission from the child's mother, at a time outside of his custody schedule. When contacted by the mother, he refused to bring the child back home. That prompted her to contact the authorities. 

Taking care of one's children is a top priority for parents. Many California parents will set aside their own desires to make sure that the children have what they need. Unfortunately, there are those parents who do not recognize that children must be given priority and therefore do not step up and take care of their children as required by a child support order. Currently, the state of California has close to $18 billion in past-due child support. This number increases to almost $120 billion throughout the nation as a whole.

Child support is calculated based upon a percentage of the parent's income. Its purpose is to help in taking care of the needs and wants of the child. Each child needs housing, food, clothing, medical care and more. In addition, children often want to participate in other activities that do require some financial outlay. Child support is provided as a means for both parents to be actively involved in meeting these needs.

Prior to walking down the aisle, the typical California couple assumes that the marriage will last "until death do us part." This will be true for approximately half of these marriages. However, for the other half, the marriage will likely end in divorce. In either circumstance, it may be in each individual's best interest to have a prenuptial agreement in place.

In many instances, one or both of the individuals have children from a previous relationship. In order to protect these children and ensure that they receive specific assets, it may be necessary to address this in a prenuptial agreement. Then, if the parent dies or a divorce occurs, there is no question as to what the parent's wishes were in regard to the children.

When children are involved, there are a number of factors which must be determined when the parents decide that they no longer wish to be together. Whether the couple is ending a marriage or simply deciding that they no longer wish to remain a couple, they are each still responsible for providing for their children. This child support is typically addressed in a formal child support order issued by a judge in a California court of law.

The amount of child support that will be ordered is based upon each individual's income and the percentage of time that each individual will be responsible for caring for the child or children. The state of California has specific guidelines regarding this issue. Child custody and visitation are taken into account as a part of this as well.