California Child Custody & California Child Support

When children are involved in a California divorce, courts are careful to take into consideration the needs and interests of the child or children when deciding California child custody and California child support issues. All courts prefer parents to amicably work out the details of raising their children together after a divorce. But when a court needs to get involved, usually when the parents can’t agree, the court will always look to the best interests of the child or children. Following are the California laws governing child custody and support.

California Child Custody:

California courts will do what is possible to lessen the emotional impact of a divorce on the children. If the parents cannot agree on a plan for custody, the courts will step in and establish a custody order that takes the following into account:

1. The health, welfare and safety of the child(ren);
2. Any history of abuse by one parent against:
   • any child related by blood or with whom he or she has had a care-taking relationship;
   • the other parent;
   • a parent, current spouse, cohabitant, or any other person with whom the parent is having a dating or engagement relationship;
3. The nature and amount of contact with both parents;
4. Any habitual or continual use of alcohol or illegal controlled substances by either parent.

California Child Support:

California courts will consider the following in determining each parent’s share of support:
1) How much each parent earns or can earn;
2) How much additional income each parent receives;
3) How many children the parents have together;
4) The amount of time each parent spends with the children;
5) The tax filing status of each parent;
6) The support of the children from other relationships;
7) Health insurance expenses;
8) Mandatory union dues;
9) Mandatory retirement contributions;
10) Costs associated with daycare and mandatory uninsured healthcare costs;
11) Any other relevant factors, such as travel expenses, special needs and educational costs.

See California Divorce Laws and Resources for child support enforcement resources.

A lawyer can help you sort through your rights and responsibilities when it comes to childrearing after a divorce, and serve as your advocate and/or counsel when negotiating a parenting agreement. You can find a lawyer at:

California Divorce/Child Support/Child Custody Lawyers:
Find an experienced California Divorce Attorney at AttorneyPages.com
Find an Experienced California Child Support & Custody Lawyer at AttorneyPages.com
How a Family Lawyer Can Help

California Divorce Laws: Click below to find the California Divorce laws you’re looking for:
California Divorce & Separation
California Divorce & Finances
California Divorce Laws & Resources

Get a Free Case Evaluation From An Experienced Attorney

Have your case evaluated by an EXPERIENCED DIVORCE ATTORNEY.
It's free and there is no obligation.

Sponsored Form

Name
Current Address	Select Your State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Preferred Phone
Alternate Phone	(optional)
Email Address

---

Reconciliation	Are you and your spouse attempting to reconcile? Yes No
Represented	Do you currently have an attorney of your own? Yes No
How Soon	How soon do you expect to hire an attorey? Immediately 1-3 months 4-6 months 7-9 months Not sure I need one
Attorney Fees	How do you plan on financing your divorce case? Borrowing (credit card, personal loan) Personal savings Family support Current income I cannot afford legal fees
Your Income	What is your approximate annual income? Select Income Range Less than $10,000 $10,000 - $20,000 $20,000 - $30,000 $30,000 - $40,000 $40,000 - $50,000 $50,000 - $60,000 $60,000 - $70,000 $70,000 - $80,000 $80,000 - $90,000 $90,000 - $100,000 $100,000 - $125,000 $125,000 - $150,000 $150,000 - $200,000 $200,000 - $250,000 More than $250,000
Spouse Income	What is your spouse's approximate annual income? Select Income Range Less than $10,000 $10,000 - $20,000 $20,000 - $30,000 $30,000 - $40,000 $40,000 - $50,000 $50,000 - $60,000 $60,000 - $70,000 $70,000 - $80,000 $80,000 - $90,000 $90,000 - $100,000 $100,000 - $125,000 $125,000 - $150,000 $150,000 - $200,000 $200,000 - $250,000 More than $250,000
Property	What property do you and/or your spouse own? (select all that apply) House Vehicle(s) Vacation Property Jewelry Pension Stocks/Bonds IRA Other:
Children	How many children are involved? Include their ages, sex and where they are living.

---

Accept Terms	Have you read and accepted the Terms and Conditions? Yes Read Sponsors Terms and Conditions Read Sponsors Privacy Policy
Year	What is the current year? (Used to block spam)