If you and your spouse have decided to have a 50-50 child custody split upon divorce, then you may be wondering how that will affect child support. You may be interested to know that one parent usually does still pay support depending on the circumstances of the parents and child at the time of divorce.
Child support is determined by a mathematical formula in California. This method considers the incomes of both parents as well as other factors that impact how much they need or can pay.
What factors are considered when determining child support in California?
Child support is usually determined using some major factors such as:
- The income of both parents
- Tax offsets
- Deductions
- Daycare needs
- Transportation costs
- Medical expenses
These are just some of the factors that the court may consider. Remember, in California, the time you spend with your child does impact how much the noncustodial parent pays. Usually, the more time a person has with their child, the less they pay in child support. Sometimes, when parents split the time equally, the child support amount is simply split between them. That could mean that, technically, both parents have to pay.
When one parent earns substantially more than another, the court may determine that the higher-earning parent needs to pay support, though this is not always the case. Usually, the noncustodial parent, such as a parent who spends 45% of the time with their child, will pay a portion of their income in child support.
What should you do if you aren’t sure how much you’ll pay or be paid?
It’s smart to find out more about the laws and explore the different possibilities. There are guidelines and calculators that may help you determine how much your ex-spouse should pay or if you’ll end up needing to pay support each month. Every case is different, so determining how much the state has established for situations like yours is key. If you or the other parent don’t agree to that amount, then there may be a possibility of coming up with your own settlement in some situations. This is something else to discuss.
