Topics:
You can find additional materials on family law by browsing the library shelves near the listed books or by searching the library catalog.
California Family Code section 4055 provides a formula (called a "guideline") for calculating the amount of child support a parent should pay. The amount determined using the formula is only a guideline - the court can look at other factors in awarding child support. There are several options for calculating the estimated amount of child support that may be ordered in your case:
- The California Department of Child Support Services website has a free online child support calculator, available at www.childsup.ca.gov/calculator. This is the official calculator used by Family Court Commissioners.
- A Sacramento Superior Court Pro Tem Judge will run a support calculation for you using the online calculator. The estimated amount determined by this calculation is for your information only; it is not official or binding, and will not be included in your case file. This free walk-in service is available Tuesday mornings, 9:00 am - 11:00 am in Department 128 at the Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. Bring the following information with you:
- The gross income of each parent.
- The percentage of time the child(ren) spend with a non-custodial parent.
- The tax filing status of each parent.
- Amounts spent by each parent on health insurance, retirement, and child care.
- If your finances are fairly simple, you may find Chapter 5 of the Nolo Press book, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California,useful for calculating support by hand. The book is in the Law Library, many public libraries, and is for sale in most bookstores and from the publisher at http://nolotech.com/CA/CA.html. However, the formula is fairly complicated, so most people prefer to use a computer to make the calculations for them.
Further information about child support is available from the following resources.
SELF HELP
Self-help materials provide "plain English" explanations of the law, written by attorneys or other legal professionals. These books include basic procedures, forms with instructions, and models of other documents that may be required.
Books:
Websites:
- California Courts Self-Help Website
http://courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-support.htm
This website provides information, instructions, and forms for setting up or modifying support orders.
- Nolo Press Self-Help Law Center
http://www.nolo.com
This website contains legal information for non-attorneys. The "Divorce and Family Law" section includes information about child support.
IN DEPTH RESEARCHThese are "practitioner's guides" aimed at attorneys; they contain a lot of information about the law, procedures, motions, and forms.
FORMS
Child support cases require the use of mandatory statewide Judicial Council forms, as well as some Sacramento County local forms. Samples of completed forms are available in many of the books listed above. Blank forms are available at the courthouse, or from the following resources:
Books:
Websites:
STATUTES
All of the materials listed above will refer you to sections of the California Codes.
Books:
- Deering's California Code Annotated KFC30.5 .D4 (Compact)
- West's Annotated California Codes KFC30 .W48
Websites:
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Family Law Facilitator
3341 Power Inn Road, Room 113
Services provided: The Family Law Facilitator's office provides workshops on many aspects of the child support process. Appointments are required to attend most workshops. To sign up for a workshop, visit the Self Help Center in Room 113 of the Family Relations Courthouse, Monday through Thursday.
Department of Child Support Services
3701 Power Inn Road
866-901-3212
Services provided: The Department of Child Support Services can assist at all stages of a child support action including locating absent parents, establishing parentage, obtaining court ordered child support awards including medical insurance, and collecting payments pursuant to the award. DCSS services are free to all parents and children in California.
updated 3/2012 mpj