Spousal / Child Support

Orange County ◦ Riverside County Child Support and Spousal Support Attorney

Child Support

Child support is generally determined by using statutory formulas that are based on parents' income and other circumstances. The California Department of Child Support Services provides a child support calculator to help you estimate your obligation. But there may be reasons to deviate from the standard child support guidelines. To determine "extra" child support contributions, such as which parent will pay for college tuition or who will pay for braces or summer camp, divorcing or separating parents can negotiate and agree to their own creative solutions. In order to ensure that your rights are protected as child support decisions are made during your divorce or unmarried parent proceedings, contact The Maggio Law Firm to schedule a consultation.

Spousal Support

Spousal support may granted to a husband or wife who has devoted years as a stay-at-home parent. When a marital separation first occurs, temporary spousal support may be required to help the dependent spouse through the transition from dependant spouse to self-supporting single parent. The longer a marriage has lasted, the better the chance that permanent spousal support will be established by the court.

Factors that the courts consider when determining spousal support typically include the following:

• The standard of living that the dependent spouse was accustomed to during the marriage
• Reimbursement of support that the dependent spouse provided the wage-earning spouse during medical school, business school or another educational program
• The educational level of the dependent spouse
• The health of the dependent spouse
• The ages of husband and wife

In many cases, a family law court will sanction alimony to allow the dependent spouse to go back to school and obtain job training for a new career with the goal of ultimate self-sufficiency.

Family Law Experience

An experienced spousal support and child support lawyer can be of great assistance as divorcing spouses customize their own agreements. Contact The Maggio Law Firm to schedule a consultation and discuss child custody, child support or alimony (spousal support) with a California family law attorney.