Bakersfield Child Support Attorneys
Child Support Lawyer in Kern County
Whether you're a prospective payor or recipient in a child support dispute,
you're probably wondering how you can achieve an outcome that helps your
child receive the resources they need.
At
Divorced by Design, our Bakersfield child support attorneys understand the ins and outs of
child support laws in California. We'll work with you to pursue an equitable
outcome that ensures your child obtains the support they deserve.
To schedule a consultation with one of our veteran Kern County child support
attorneys,
contact us online or via phone at
(661) 760-2872.
How Does Child Support Work in California?
There are 49 child support agencies spread out across the state of California.
The agency you work with on your child support case will be determined
by the county that you file for child support in.
So how does child support work in California? Generally, the
custodial parent - whichever parent the child spends a majority of their time living with
- receives child support payments. If a parent wishes to receive child
support, they must either visit their local child support agency and fill
out an application at the agency, or do so online. The agency will then
work with the parent to initiate a child support case with the court.
After opening a child support case, the agency will work with the parent
to ensure both parents are located. After the prospective child support
payor is located, they will be given a Summons and Complaint packet notifying
them of the support case. They have 30 days to respond. If they choose
not to respond, the court may award the parent or guardian who initiated
the case with a default judgment awarding them support.
Assuming both parents named in the support case have legal parentage of
the child the case is for, they then have two options:
-
Form a stipulated agreement. If the parents agree on a child support arrangement, they can work with
their attorneys to draft and sign an agreement detailing those terms.
A court can then approve the agreement to finalize the support arrangement.
-
Litigate the case in court. If the parents disagree, the parents can attend court together and present
their cases to the judge. The judge will then determine an equitable arrangement
and issue a child support order.
After a child support order is established, the support payor's employer
will be responsible for automatically deducting child support from their paycheck.
