Santa Rosa Child Support Attorney

CHILD SUPPORT LAWYER PROUDLY SERVING SANTA ROSA AND ALL OF SONOMA COUNTY

When it comes to child support, both parents are held responsible for the needs of their children and sometimes it does not seem fair when one is paying all or more than the other. Our Santa Rosa Child Support Attorney will help you through the entire process step by step. Our team is committed to being the best family law firm anywhere and providing cost-effective, premier litigation services. Contact us today to experience the relief and joy that comes from having the legal support you need.

The cost of living in California can be challenging, requiring both parents to work outside of the home, oftentimes. California law establishes that both parents have equal responsibility for the financial support of their children, up to the age of 19 years old and sometimes into adulthood. On top of that, if the child is incapacitated in any way, the courts enforce the continued support of an adult child.

When facing the prospect of divorce, the matter of child support is undoubtedly at the forefront of your mind. The worries of how a divorce will affect a child are already substantial, without having to worry about how their financial needs will be met after the disruption of a divorce. The attorneys at Vandyk Law understand this intense burden and know exactly how to help. We have years of experience assisting individuals in just your same circumstances.

Examples of Qualifying Income

Child support is the amount of money that a California court orders a parent to pay each month to help support the child’s living expenses. The courts require that each parent contributes according to his ability. A person’s income can include many different factors. The courts consider the following to be “income”:

• Salary, wages, income from being self-employed
• Pension;
• Workers Compensation Benefits;
• Rental income;
• Bonuses & commissions;
• Spousal Support from a person who is not the other parent in the child support action, etc.

Elements that aren’t included as income are public assistance benefits or child support payments that are received by one parent. Examples of other items that are deductible from the child support calculation are:

• State and federal tax obligations;
• Union dues;
• Property taxes;
• Child care costs;
• Necessary job-related expenses;

It’s important to rely on an experienced attorney to help you gather as many deductions as possible. The attorneys at Vandyk Law will make sure every penny of any deductions is included in the judge’s calculation.

How Support is Determined

The courts use a standard formula to determine what amount should be paid. Each spouse will be asked to complete an Income and Expense Declaration, under penalty of perjury, detailing their current income and expenses. The court inputs Information from this form into a computer program to determine support. California courts have ample discretion when ordering child support, and are able to order an amount that is different than what is generated from the computer report.

This calculation could potentially change your life in a drastic way if the number rendered is inaccurate or higher than you’d anticipated. The attorneys at Vandyk Law can walk you through each step of the process and make sure the support order is something you can manage.

Additional Factors

Other factors that are taken into consideration in this calculation are which parent has the primary responsibility of the day to day management of the child, as well as who picks up the children from school when they’re sick, who provides the majority of transportation to and fro school, and who pays the education costs.

Ample documentation must be provided to the court to make this determination- a process that our law firm is very familiar with. We can assist in gathering this documentation and also advise you on what information will work most advantageously in your favor.

Oftentimes, individuals will need to make a modification to an existing child support order, due to a change in circumstances, such as a major loss of income, another child from a different relationship, or a change in the custodial arrangement. Vandyk Law handles modifications every day and can lead the way in reaching an amicable support order that better fits your changing needs.

CONTACTING A SANTA ROSA CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEY

Call Vandyk Law today to make sure your child support order is in your and your child’s best interest. We’ll make this happen so you can focus on helping your children through the changes that come with a divorce.

If you are facing support issues in California and want to find the best attorney you can to handle your case, you should contact Santa Rosa Child Support Attorney Carolyn Vandyk as soon as possible.  We assist clients with all Family Law matters and understand that this is a difficult and often confusing time in someone’s life.  Call our office today at (707) 528-1100 for a compassionate and confidential consultation.