If you have to pay child support, you have an order from a court to do so. As with any court order, you have a legal obligation to follow it or face punishments. The Judicial Branch of California explains you could potentially face a contempt of court charge if you do...
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Child Support
Factors California courts consider when awarding spousal support
When you and your California spouse part ways, you may decide to pursue spousal support if you were the lower-earning party in your relationship. The same holds true if you put your career or schooling on hold for the sake of your husband or wife. When deciding...
What factors affect child support amounts?
Just as you had several financial considerations as part of dissolving your marriage, the same applies to the child custody and child support aspect of your divorce. How much should you expect to pay or receive? Money Crashers explains factors courts consider when...
How hard is it to modify a child support order?
Child support is simply money one parent pays to the other to provide for the needs of the child. Because a parent’s support obligation stems from a court order, there are serious consequences for falling behind on support payments or stopping them altogether. In some...
What expenses does child support cover?
Despite your divorce, you and your ex-spouse must still work together to raise your shared child, which requires one of you to pay child support. Do you know which expenses qualify for child support? Our Family Wizard explains how divorced couples may use child...
Another way you may receive support from your ex-spouse
While spousal support may become an important source of your income, at retirement age, you will need every penny you can get to maintain the standard of living you used to enjoy while married. Lawmakers understand that, often, one spouse earned considerably less...
What happens when you can’t pay child support?
The court recognizes that lives and circumstances change, but it must enter a child support order based on the details at the time of the hearing. If you find yourself unable to pay your child support, you do have options. The California Courts does note that you...
What to know about child support modifications
Sometimes parents may realize they can no longer afford their child support payments. In this situation, they should ask for modifications. People may need child support modifications for many reasons. According to the State of California, people can request a...
How does a job loss affect your child support obligations?
The recent economic downturn has left thousands of Californians without jobs. If you are one of them, you may be struggling to pay your monthly bills. If a court has ordered you to pay child support, though, your unemployment does not absolve you. That is, regardless...
Electronic child support payment changes: Is your employer ready?
California parents who pay child support have good reason to understand how electronic payments work to ensure support always reaches their children on time. Parents who make electronic child support payments through their employers should mark April 16, 2020, on...