{"id":371752,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2025-03-26T15:21:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T20:21:27","slug":"california-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"California Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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California Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

California child support<\/a> laws require both parents to support their minor children in the event of a divorce or separation. California courts use a standard formula to ensure that the parent best able to pay support makes payments. The parents’ combined income and the needs of the child determine the amount of child support.<\/p>\r\n

California Family Code sections 4050-4076<\/a> outline the methods for calculating child support. The codes also give judges discretion to modify guideline calculations if necessary. Judges calculate child support amounts separately from other financial matters in divorce. Orders for alimony and other payments do not affect the amount of support for children.<\/p>\r\n

California’s child support guidelines attempt to preserve the lifestyle enjoyed by the child before the parents’ separation. This article reviews how California family law<\/a> courts make child support orders.<\/p>\r\n

Child Support Obligations<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Under California law, parents must provide<\/a> food, shelter, clothing, and medical care for their children until the child is a legal adult. A parent’s duty of financial support can’t be waived or terminated by any action of the parents. In other words, parents can’t "terminate their parental rights" to avoid child support payments.<\/p>\r\n

A judge must enter a formal order severing a parent’s rights to end their support obligation. This only happens when:<\/p>\r\n