Upland Child Support Lawyer

In the state of California, parents have certain rights and responsibilities when it comes to their children. One of those responsibilities includes giving their kids financial support, which is commonly called child support. If you have questions about whether you may be ordered to pay support or you could be entitled to payments, it is a good idea to talk to an Upland child support lawyer from the Law Office of Laurence J. Brock as soon as possible.

What Is Child Support?

Child support is regulated by California law, and it is designed to provide financial support for children whose parents are no longer together.

The state of California has specific child support guidelines, and judges use them when they’re determining how much money should change hands in any child support case.

The child support guidelines are versatile, and they are based on several factors:

Who has primary custody of the children
Each party’s ability to provide financial support for the children
The number of children a couple shares
Additional expenses related to raising the children

Once a court issues a child support order, it is legally enforceable. However, parents are not permitted to withhold visitation when one parent doesn’t pay child support. Likewise, parents are not permitted to withhold child support because the other parent refuses to allow visitation. If you and your ex are having a dispute regarding these issues, please contact an Upland child support lawyer from our office for help arriving at a solution.

Who Can Be Ordered to Pay Child Support?

The legal mother or father of a child can be ordered to pay child support in the state of California.

The Importance of Establishing Paternity

Establishing paternity is extremely important if the two parents were not married. Even if the parents were married, there can be questions regarding parentage—and when one parent disputes paternity, it is important that a legal bond be created between a father and the child through a paternity test.

This is because the courts cannot legally order child support without an establishment of paternity. If your former spouse is disputing paternity, an Upland child support lawyer from our firm can help you through the steps required to end the dispute.

Upland Spousal Support Lawyer

Spousal support and alimony are the same thing. Both terms refer to the exchange of money between two former spouses with the intention of supporting one of the two. If you are unsure whether alimony will be a factor in your case, it’s probably a good idea to talk to an Upland spousal support lawyer about your concerns.

What Is Spousal Support?

Spousal support is usually given to a spouse who does not have the ability to support him or herself during or after divorce.

Could a Court Order You to Pay Alimony?

The courts may order spousal support in any divorce case after evaluating the situation and looking at several factors. In some cases, a couple may agree to exchange spousal support; when that happens, the judge will evaluate the situation and determine whether the agreed-upon amount is fair and necessary.

What the Courts Consider in Spousal Support Cases

When one party petitions the court for alimony, the court must look at several factors, which are outlined in California Family Code, Section 4320. Those factors include all of the following points:

The duration of the marriage
Whether some type of spousal support is necessary
Each party’s ability to maintain his or her standard of living
Whether the party requesting support is suffering from present or future impairment in earning capacity
The ability of the other party to pay
Whether there is a documented history of domestic violence

How Long Does Spousal Support Last in California?

Alimony lasts until a court order stops it. However, spousal support also ends when one spouse dies or either marries or enters into a domestic partnership with someone else.

Are Child Support and Alimony Related?

Child support and alimony are completely separate issues. However, in some cases, the amount of spousal support that changes hands may be affected by the amount of child support one parent pays or receives.

For example, the court may elect not to award alimony in a case where one party is paying a significant portion of his or her income in child support, therefore making alimony payments a significant financial hardship.

Your Upland spousal support lawyer will ensure that the alimony involved in your divorce is fair for both parties.