California Governor Gavin Newsom recently warned that one-fourth of California workers could lose their jobs due to coronavirus shutdowns. With an unemployment rate that has skyrocketed, the unemployment numbers in California will be higher than 20%. Over 4.5 million people have filed for unemployment in California since the middle of March when state and local governments began to impose shutdowns.
With unemployment rates rising every day, many parents are concerned about how they will pay child support or whether they will receive child support. Understanding what child support is in California and what you need to know about child support can be helpful during these uncertain times.
What is Child Support in California?
In California, child support is the amount of money that a court can order one or both parents to pay for the expense of raising a child or children. When a California court orders parents to pay child support, they will need to pay child support once every month.
California’s Mandatory State-Wide Child Support Formula
California uses a mandatory state-wide child support formula that takes the following into account:
- The income of the parents
- How much time each child spends with each parent
- Other discretionary factors
California’s child support formula is designed to award child support that reflects the standard of living of both parents. Child support can improve the standard of living of the custodial household to improve the lives of the children involved.
