Child and Spousal Support

Fresno, California, Child Support and Alimony Attorney

In California, there are statutory guidelines that determine child support. There is not a specific formula for determining spousal support. In divorce situations, disputes often arise over the amount of child and spousal support that one party will pay to the other. At Lerandeau & Lerandeau, Attorneys at Law, in Fresno, California, we strive to secure accurate data related to income and expenses and investigate when finances may be hidden.

Determining Child Support and Spousal Maintenance

At Lerandeau & Lerandeau, Attorneys at Law, we focus on family law only. Our attorneys have represented clients who dispute the amounts entered into the child support calculator. Generally, in determining child support, the court considers the following items:

• Net income of the non-custodial parent
• Net income of the custodial parent
• Cost of health insurance paid by the parents
• Amount of time that the children spend with each parent
• The number of children

Unlike child support, there is no “alimony calculator” in existence. Disputes about income and expenses often occur between the spouse paying alimony and the receiving spouse. Spousal support is determined based on a variety of factors, including:

• The length of the marriage
• The income of the parties, and whether one spouse gave up a career to raise the children
• The age and health of the parties
• The needs of the party based on the standard of living during the marriage
• The parties’ obligations and assets (separate property)

Child Support and Spousal Support Disputes

The financial information used for child support and spousal support is often a point of contention. One spouse feels that they are not getting enough while another feels that the amount he or she is paying is too high. A spouse may accuse the other of concealing income based on self-employment or business ownership, when in reality that person has a high number of tax deductions that caused the net income to be very low. It may be necessary for the court to review tax returns.

Mediating Child Support and Spousal Support Matters

As in any other aspect of divorce, we encourage our clients to negotiate the outcome. Child support is more rigid than alimony, but many parties still argue over the numbers that are put into the calculation. The parties should consider tax implications as well. Allowing a judge to decide can put your financial future in question. Let our attorneys help you find a mutually satisfactory conclusion to your child support and spousal support disputes.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with an experienced lawyer, please contact us.