In California, family law courts and judges use the guideline calculator. The guideline calculator is used to calculate the amount of child support that will be owed. The amount calculated is an estimate of what the child support payments may potentially be. When the matter is heard in front of the judge the judge will then calculate the appropriate amount that will be due.
It is important to note that, although the guideline calculator can provide an idea of the amount you will be paying; this is not guaranteeing a specific amount that will be due. The judge will take into account additional factors regarding the case and from there, calculate an appropriate amount.
The attorney can calculate the potential amount for you using the guideline calculator, or you can also do so on your own. The attorney will then explain how the calculation arose and what factors impacted the amount determined. Many categories need to be filled out when using the guideline calculator, so it is important to be as accurate as possible when providing your information. The more accurate the information that is imputed, the closer the estimate may be to the actual amount ordered by the court.
If you have further questions regarding calculating child support or child support payments in general, please call a lawyer in your area. Yanez & Associates offers a free initial consultation. Call today to reserve an appointment with the firm. Please call 714-971-8000 for further details.