Hefty fines and even jail time can be the consequence of not paying child support. If a parent has a valid reason why their child support should be modified, they should get legal counsel to show proof of the change in circumstances. Job layoffs, a big cut in pay, or disasters and emergencies can greatly affect a parent’s ability to pay.

“An individual must show the change has substantially affected their income, is permanent, and was not a voluntary change,” says Irvine child support attorney Gerald Maggio, of the Maggio Law Firm. “Many people wait until they are already behind to get a modification, but the minute a big change has occurred you should be getting legal counsel.”

Support orders should be reviewed every three years to account for any financial changes of the parents or needs for the child. An experienced Orange County child support attorney will ensure the accuracy of filing the modification, and sometimes even an extension is needed for a child’s schooling or medical situation. It’s important to know that child support cannot be modified retroactively, so if a parent waits too long to modify, the back pay will still be due at the different amount.

The Maggio Law Firm has a successful track record of enforcing child support orders and modifying it for clients when a big life change occurs. They are accomplished in child custody, division of property, spousal support, and many California divorce matters. Maggio is known for aggressively pursing his client’s and their child’s rights with empathy, skill, and efficiency.

For more information:

The Maggio Law Firm, Inc.

www.maggiolawfirm.com

Orange County Office

8105 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 600

Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 553-0304

(949) 553-0346 Fax

Riverside Office

3750 University Avenue, Suite 670

Riverside, CA 92501

To learn more about the Maggio Law Firm visit http://www.maggiolawfirm.com/.

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However, when children are involved, partners who were once bonded by marriage will, in some form or fashion, still have to deal with each other when it comes to joint parenting or issues concerning the children, no matter who is paying child support or who thinks they got the shorter end of the stick.

Divorced couples whose goal is to raise well-adjusted kids in light of the divorce and separation have some work ahead of them that requires balance, commitment and a keen focus from both sides. They both must come together as a unified front for the betterment of the children.

Of course, there are the classic emotional stages of divorce that most couples find themselves going through. There is the guilt and shame that usually occurs when there is the feeling of failure – all normal reactions to the drastic changes of divorce. No doubt that there may be an emotional roller coaster of grief. Subconsciously, or at many levels, there may be denial, bargaining, resentment, anger and acceptance –all are on the vast spectrum of emotions people feel after a divorce.

There can be much to be gained by remaining allies, even though communication or mutual respect has diminished in your marital relationship. Being civil and maintaining family ties on both sides can ensure balance and equilibrium for children who need stability and extended emotional support more than ever. It is always good to remember to put your children first. Do not be petty by rehashing old arguments and opening up old wounds. Try to also be inclusive. Involve each other in your children’s milestones, shortcomings and achievements.

To let go of resentment and the emotional baggage of a failed marriage and the many disconnects that might have occurred, the idea of maintaining some sort of harmony in front of and around the children will always speak volumes and can also help your children adjust to the divorce and become well-adjusted adults in the long run.

Gerald A. Maggio is an Orange County divorce attorney, in Irvine, California. To learn more about Orange Country divorce lawyer, Gerald A. Maggio, visit Maggiolawfirm.com.

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There is a child support guideline formula in the state of California that is used to determine the appropriate amount of money due to the parent who has legal custody. Net income and the quantity of time each parent spends with the children are two major factors in calculating child support payments.

With these two main factors in mind, the California Family Court calculates child support based on each parent’s net income and the amount of time a child spends with either parent. There are additional factors in calculating child support payments, such as: child care expenses, medical insurance premiums, home mortgage payments, tax filing status and any other expenses that can impact the family’s financial situation.

A judge will begin the process by looking very closely at the amount of time each parent spends with the children. This amount of time is then entered into a complex formula that is used to calculate support payments, often referred to as the “J Factor.” This element is named so because the California Child Support Guideline operates using a mathematical formula in which “J” refers to the amount of time the non-custodial parent spends with the child or children. The formula used in calculating child support is the same in every case and in every court in California. Because the formula used to calculate the child support amounts is complicated, the court most commonly utilizes a computer program called a Dissomaster™ to calculate the monthly child support amounts.

An experienced family law attorney will know how to negotiate what gets calculated into the non-custodial parent’s net income. This can include bonuses, commissions, overtime pay or any other form of income that occurs on a regular basis. Such calculations will help to ensure that the proper amount of child support is received each month.

Because basic child support doesn’t include child care or uninsured medical expenses, the court will consider these expenses in addition to the guideline support. This is called a mandatory add-on. Generally, each adult is responsible for paying half of the child care expenses if the custodial parent is employed full time.

Gerald A. Maggio is an Orange County divorce attorney, in Irvine, California. To learn more about Orange Country divorce lawyer, Gerald A. Maggio, visit Maggiolawfirm.com.

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However, for marriages 10 years or more, the court generally has continuing jurisdiction over the issue of spousal support and the longer the marriage, generally the prospect of continuing spousal support for many years to come.

To determine the amount of long-term spousal support, the Court will consider such factors as the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, the needs of the parties, the age, health, earning capacity and job histories of both parties.

These factors are specifically stated in California Family Code section 4320, which by law the court must consider all of the factors state in 4320.

California Family Code section 4320 states as follows concerning long-term “permanent” spousal support:

In ordering spousal support under this part, the court shall consider all of the following circumstances:

a. The extent to which the earning capacity of each party is sufficient to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage, taking into account all of the following:

1. The marketable skills of the supported party; the job market for those skills; and the possible need for retraining or education to develop or acquire other, more marketable skills or employment.
2. The extent to which the supported party’s present or future earning capacity is impaired by periods of unemployment that were incurred during the marriage by periods of unemployment that were incurred during the marriage to permit the supported party to devote time to domestic duties.

b. The extent to which the supported party to devote time to domestic duties.

c. The ability of the supporting party to pay spousal support, taking into account the supporting party’s earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets and standard of living.

d. The need of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage.

e. The obligations and assets, including the separate property, of each party.

f. The duration of the marriage.

g. The ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children in the custody of the party.

h. The age and health of the party.

i. Documented evidence of any history of domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211, between the parties, including but not limited to, consideration of emotional distress resulting from domestic violence perpetrated against the supported party by the supporting party, and consideration of any history of violence against the supporting party by the supported party.

j. The immediate and specific tax consequences to each party.

k. The balance of the hardships to each party.

l. The goal that the supported party shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time. Except in the case of a marriage of a long duration as described in Section 4336, a “reasonable period of time” for purposes of this section generally shall be one-half the length of the marriage. However, nothing in this section is intended to limit the court’s discretion to order support for a greater or lesser length of time, based on any of the other factors listed in this section, Section 4336, and the circumstances of the parties.

m. The criminal conviction of an abusive spouse shall be considered in making a reduction or elimination of a spousal support award in accordance with Section 4325.

n. Any other factors the court determines are just and equitable.

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The factors considered in making child support orders are primarily the gross income of the parties and the amount of time each parent spends with the minor child. However, other factors that can be considered include any itemized deductions the parties can claim on their taxes, medical insurance premiums paid each month, and any mandatory requirement payments and union dues for individuals whose employment requires them to be part of a union and to contribute to a deferred compensation retirement plan (i.e. a pension).

In addition to the basic monthly child support, the court will generally also order that the parents equally share the costs of childcare expenses necessary for the custodial parent or both parents to work, as well as any medical, dental and vision expenses for the minor child not covered or reimbursed by medical/dental/vision insurance.

Child support can also include expenses for the special needs of a child, such as tutors or other services, as well as the transportation costs for visitation of a parent.

Finally, the Court generally orders that both parents keep their child medically insured if it is available at no cost or at reasonable cost to both parents.

Child Support is generally paid until the minor child reaches the age of 18, or the age of 19 if they are still a full-time high school student at age 18, unless the minor child dies or becomes emancipated prior to becoming an adult.

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1. A significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income;
2. A change in custody or the amount of time the child spends with each parent;
3. Any other change that would affect the child support guideline calculations.

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There are 2 types of cases opened by DCSS: Public assistance (i.e. Welfare) and Non-Public Assistance. If you receive public assistance, you have automatically assigned to DCSS or the State of California your right to receive some or all of you current and past-due child support. In other words, you may be receiving Public Assistance but the agency from whom you are receiving such assistance will go after the supporting parent to get reimbursement for such assistance.

For Non-Public Assistance, you can open up a DCSS case to establish a child support order (generally in situations where non-marital parents are involved) or to enforce a child support order made in a divorce or legal separation case. The benefit of opening a DCSS case to enforce a child support order is that DCSS is a part of the statewide and sister-state system of support enforcement and DCSS has powers of enforcement that include suspension of the supporting parent’s driver’s license and professional licenses, interception of state income tax refunds, etc., at no cost to you. Although DCSS deals with huge numbers of cases, the circumstances of your case may be such that opening a DCSS case is advisable once your attorney has established a child support order against the other parent.

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Child Support deductibility
Child support is generally considered under state and Federal law to NOT be tax-deductible to the spouse who is paying such support, and so the spouse receiving such support does not have to report such support as income on his or her tax returns.

Custodial Parent Entitled to dependency exemption for children unless waived
Generally, state and federal law states that the parent who has at least 51% custodial timeshare has the right to claim the minor children as dependency tax exemptions on the income tax returns.

However, that spouse can waive such right and give the noncustodial parent the right to claim the children as exemptions, but it is advisable to have such wavier in written form. In situations where the on-custodial parent earns a much higher-income, giving the child tax exemption to that parent who will benefit much more by such exemptions may be a good faith gesture, but it is advisable to seek more support that what the non-custodial parent would have been liable to pay in exchange.

You should always seek the advice of a tax professional concerning tax issues and what the best course of action is in your particular case.

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