Menifee Child Support Lawyer

Menifee Child Support Attorney

Child support is often a necessity in any divorce where children are involved. Sometimes, the custodial parent’s financial situation is negatively impacted by the divorce, prompting the noncustodial parent to have to pay a certain amount of child support. This amount can be decided together by both parents or ordered by the court. Either way, child support can be a difficult subject to approach. A Menifee child support lawyer can help make the process easier.

What Is Child Support in California?

In the state of California, child support is the monetary amount that a noncustodial parent is ordered by the court to pay to the custodial parent every month. The intention of this money is to fund the child’s well-being, providing support for living expenses such as food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care.

Since every divorce is resolved differently, no two child support agreements are going to be the same. The court decides on the terms based on the needs and interests of the children.

Many different factors are taken into consideration when determining child support, as well as deciding which parent will take primary physical and/or legal custody of the child in question. These factors include each parent’s monthly income, how each parent files their taxes, and which parent spends the largest amount of time with the child. If the child is old enough, the court may take their wishes into consideration when deciding on custody.

California’s Child Support Process

It is recommended that you retain the services of an experienced child support lawyer in Menifee before embarking on the potentially lengthy and difficult child support process. If you have already served a noncustodial parent a court order for child support and need help enforcing it, you should open a case with Child Support Services. In other cases, here are some of the steps of the child support process you will need to take:

• Enroll in Child Support Services: If both parents are granted physical and/or legal joint custody of the child, then either parent can enroll in Child Support Services. If you are ordered to pay child support from a court order, Child Support Services can help you through the process and make sure everything is filed correctly. If you do not have a court order, they can assist you in finding the other parent so you can serve them with a court order.
• Locate a Parent: You can’t serve a parent with a court order for child support if you do not know how to find that parent. While Child Support Services can help you try to find the parent, there is no guarantee they’ll be found, especially if there isn’t much information to go on. If you provide information like a birthday, social security number, or helpful background information, it may be easier to find them.
• Establish Parentage: If you are served a court order for child support but do not believe you should have to pay it, you have the right to establish parentage of the child in question. In fact, Child Support Services can help you free of charge. To establish parentage, you will submit to a DNA test. Parentage can also be proven by documents that prove the parents were legally married at the time of the child’s birth.
• Close the Case: There are many reasons that a child support case might close, but it usually happens when the child turns 18 and is considered a legal adult. If the total balance of an agreed-upon amount is paid off, that can also close the case.

FAQs About Menifee, CA Child Support Lawyer

How Much Does a Child Custody Lawyer Cost in California?

There is no telling how much a child custody lawyer could cost in California. Every child custody situation is different. Each case has its own details, specifics, and circumstances that make every individual case unique. Since the circumstances are always different, the lawyer’s fee is going to be different. A lawyer’s fee is determined largely by their experience, education, availability, resources, and the complexity of the case.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Child Support in California?

Technically, you do not need to hire a lawyer for child support in California. If you want to try to handle your case on your own, you are within your legal rights to do so. However, it is highly recommended that you retain legal counsel any time you are dealing with legal matters. Doing everything on your own can be complicated. Having someone in your corner who knows what they’re doing can only benefit you in the long run.

How Do I Take Legal Action for Child Support in California?

If you want to take legal action for child support and make sure the other parent is providing what they need, you will need to establish a case with Child Support Services. CSS will then file the correct paperwork with the court, work to establish parentage, and track down the parent so they can be served with a court order to pay child support. It is recommended that you have a lawyer present to protect yourself through this process.

How Is Child Support Enforced in California?

Child support payments are enforced in many different ways in California. One way is to withhold income. A court order for child support often instructs the parent’s employer to deduct child support payments from their paycheck. Additionally, a hold may be placed on their bank account to seize funds for child support payments. If they fail to pay at all, they could have their driver’s license revoked.

Reach Out to a Child Support Lawyer Today

Dealing with the child support process on your own can be a difficult ordeal. That’s why it’s so important to hire an experienced family lawyer who can help you go through the process correctly. The last thing you want is to go through the process unprepared.

The legal team at the Edgar & Dow can help you make sure you are able to receive child support payments by determining the right course of action. Contact us to speak with a team member about your case.