Child Support

Knowledgeable Child Support Representation

As a parent, you want the best for your child. This remains true in cases of divorce. Even though your marriage may be ending, you still have the desire and responsibility to provide a quality life for your child. Establishing an appropriate child support structure is of top importance for ensuring your child is financially provided for.

At the Law Offices of William M. Strachan in Huntington Beach, California, we have represented and defended parents in child support disputes for 22 years. Contact us for a free consultation with Attorney Strachan.

Child Support in California

California has specific guidelines for determining child support amounts, also known as awards. During divorce or other child support proceeding, the court calculates an appropriate child support award using the guidelines as set forth in specific family law statutes. Some factors taken into account in the guidelines include:

Daycare and healthcare expense
Uninsured healthcare costs
A parent's after-tax income
The amount of time each parent spends with the child
The number of children in a family
Current child support commitments
Hardship deductions

There are instances where a court can deviate from the guidelines by either adding additional support or reducing support amounts below guidelines. Some factors the court can cite to deviate from the guidelines include:

The parties stipulate a different amount
A deferred sale of a family residence
The parent paying child support has income that exceeds the needs of the children
The parent paying child support has very low-income
Educational costs or other special needs of the child
Travel expenses for visitation

Certified Family Law Specialist William M. Strachan represents both sides of a child support dispute. He helps our client's either maximize or minimize the amount of child support the court will award.

In some instances, determining a person's income is not easy. When people are self-employed, work for cash, and do not represent their income accurately, a client can hire a forensic expert to determine a parent's true income and expenses.

Child Support Enforcement and Modifications

Sometimes legal issues arise even after a court finalizes child support. Circumstances may change. The other parent may choose not to follow through with payments. We represent clients seeking to modify or enforce an award of child support.