Lemoore Child Support Lawyer

Lemoore Child Support Attorney

An important component for any divorce involving minor children is child support. Your child deserves to be financially supported by both parents, even after separation or divorce. By receiving support, your child can feel comfortable, secure, and happy while maintaining the same standard of living they had before the divorce. Calculating child support fairly and in a way that protects your child’s best interest can be achieved with the aid of a Lemoore child support lawyer.

Our team at Chase Family Law has over 30 years of experience helping thousands of families with family law matters. If you are the parent requesting child support, our skilled lawyer can review your case and assist with seeking it. If you are the paying parent, we can work to prevent unduly large payments that harm your finances.

The Importance of Child Support

Child support can be a critical source of income for single parents who would otherwise struggle to provide for their child’s basic needs. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 4.1 million parents received child support in 2021, with an average monthly payment of $441. Research shows that children who receive child support are less likely to have:

• Poor academic performance
• Physical, mental, and behavioral health problems
• Disrupted brain development
• Employment challenges as an adult
• Contact with the criminal or juvenile justice systems

By seeking out child support, you are doing what is best for your child. When you hire a child support lawyer, they can work toward an agreement that helps you and your child.

How Is Child Support Calculated in California?

In Lemoore, child support is handled by the Kings County Child Support Services department in Hanford. The court can make its own child support calculations using preset guidelines that are also used throughout California. This “one-size-fits-most” method may not be best for your child’s needs, and that is where our lawyer at Chase Family Law can help.

In California, including in Lemoore, you and your spouse are allowed to create a child support agreement together. The agreement must be fair to both parties and directly benefit your child, in accordance with California’s child support laws. Items to consider when creating a child support plan in Lemoore include:

• Both parents’ gross income
• The number of children, including those in present and past relationships
• Child custody arrangements
• The tax-filing status of both parents
• Child support received by either parent from a previous relationship
• Childcare, medical, and daycare costs

If a parent is unemployed but fit to work, the court may assign an income amount to them, even if they are not currently earning, to make the calculation fair to both parties. Having a skilled attorney at your side during this process can be vital.

They can check that:

• Everything is calculated correctly.
• All expenses can be covered.
• No one is unduly burdened.

How to Prepare Before Meeting With Your Child Support Lawyer

When you work with Chase Family Law, we can handle the legal strategy, but your organization can strengthen your case. When you meet with us for the first time, it is important to bring:

• Financial statements, such as:
  • W-2s, 1099s, and K-1s
  • Pay stubs
  • Federal and state tax returns
  • Business profit and loss statements
• A calendar that tracks your parenting time and overnights with your child
• Receipts for child-related expenses
• Childcare payment information
• Health insurance premium costs
• Medical bills
• Costs for extracurricular activities

These documents can allow us to understand your unique case and your child’s individual needs. We can then develop a strategy that works for your family while being fair to your spouse.

FAQs About Child Support Law

What Type of Lawyer Is Ideal for My Child Support Case?

An experienced family law attorney, like our attorney at Chase Family Law, is the ideal lawyer for your child support case. A family law attorney knows California’s specific guidelines regarding child support, paternity establishment, and the process to modify existing orders.

Our lawyer has experience working with complex cases involving:

• Contentious situations
• Enforcement for unpaid child support
• Calculating support based on different income streams

We have worked on thousands of cases with the Kings County Child Support Services Department.

What Happens to the Child Support Agreement If I Lose My Current Job?

In California, if you lose your job, this qualifies as a significant, life-changing event. You must contact a Lemoore child support attorney, as they can help you file a request with the court to modify your current child support order. The order will not be automatically paused, and payments will still accrue at the old rate until a judge issues a new order. This can take some time, so it is important to act swiftly.

How Long Does Child Support Last in California?

In California, child support lasts until the child turns 18, but if the child is still a full-time student, then support will continue until they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first. If a child is disabled, support may continue indefinitely. It can end earlier if the child marries, joins the military, or becomes emancipated before the age of 18.

Parents can also mutually agree to extend support beyond these legal requirements to cover costs such as college expenses.

Can I Get Child Support in California If the Other Parent Lives in Another State?

Yes, you can still receive child support in California if the other parent lives in another state. California child support services use the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) to handle these cases, which allows orders to be established, modified, or enforced across state lines.

If no order currently exists, you can file in California, and they will work with the other state to establish parentage and support.

Hire a Child Support Lawyer

Filing for child support can be difficult; you want to do what is best for your child, but you may be worried about upsetting the other parent. Ultimately, it is important to do what is best for your child by contacting a Lemoore child support lawyer.

Our lawyer at Chase Family Law has extensive experience in child support cases, having represented thousands of parents with a range of needs. Contact us today to learn more.