How much is child support in California is one of the most common questions in family law proceedings. California uses a mandatory statewide guideline formula to calculate child support — courts cannot deviate from the guideline unless specific statutory conditions are met. Understanding how the California child support calculator works, what factors affect the amount, and what parents can typically expect helps both paying and receiving parents plan effectively.
California Child Support Calculator — The DissoMaster Formula
The California child support calculator used by courts — the DissoMaster software — applies the guideline formula under Family Code section 4055. The formula takes into account: each parent's net monthly disposable income (gross income minus allowable deductions like taxes, health insurance, and mandatory retirement contributions); the percentage of time each parent has with the child (timeshare); the number of children; and various add-on expenses. The formula is complex but the general principle is that the higher the paying parent's income relative to the receiving parent's income, and the lower the paying parent's custody percentage, the higher the child support obligation.
What Counts as Income for Child Support
California child support income includes virtually all sources: wages and salary, self-employment income, rental income, investment income, disability income, Social Security benefits, pension and retirement distributions, workers compensation, and unemployment benefits. Courts also have authority to impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — assigning income at what the parent could earn with reasonable effort based on their skills, education, and the job market.
Child Support Add-Ons
Beyond the base child support amount, California courts order mandatory add-ons under Family Code section 4062: childcare costs related to employment or education; and the child's uninsured health care costs, divided proportionally. Discretionary add-ons include educational expenses and costs for extracurricular activities. Child support calculate California amounts must include both the base guideline amount and any applicable add-ons.
How Much Is Child Support — Examples
Child support amounts vary enormously based on income levels and timeshare. A parent earning $8,000 net per month with 20% custody might pay approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per month for one child when the other parent earns $3,000 net per month with 80% custody — these are illustrative figures, not legal advice. How much child support in California is ordered depends entirely on running the DissoMaster calculation with actual income figures and timeshare percentages for your specific situation.
Furubotten Law, APC runs DissoMaster calculations and advises clients on child support proceedings throughout Orange County and Riverside County. Call (714) 795-3862 for a complimentary case evaluation.