Los Angeles Divorce Attorneys/Lawyers Family Law Attorney Beverly Hills

Child Support - Child support is the amount of money that the court orders one parent to
pay the other parent every month for the support of the child(ren). California has a formula
(called a "guideline") for figuring out how much child support should be paid in all cases.
Click here to learn more about how child support is calculated.

Child support payments are usually made until children turn 18, or 19 if they are still in
high school full time, living at home, and can't support themselves. Click here to learn more
about when child support ends.

You can ask the judge to make a child support order when you:

Get a divorce, legal separation, or annulment,
Establish parentage, or
Get a domestic violence restraining order.

Parents who

have signed a voluntary declaration of paternity, OR
are married, or registered domestic partners, and don't want to get legally separated
or divorced can also ask for a child support order when they file a Petition for
Custody and Support of Minor Children (form FL-260).

Either parent can later ask the judge to change the support amount if the situation
changes.

Amounts required to be paid under a judgment, decree, or order, whether temporary, final,
or subject to modification, for the support and maintenance of a child or children, which
provides for any or all of the following: monetary support, health insurance coverage,
arrearages, and may include interest on delinquent child support obligations.

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