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You are here: Families & Children > Family Law Overview > Child, Spousal, & Partner Support Overview
Click on a topic below:
Child Support
Spousal Support
Partner Support
Child Support. Child support is the amount of money that the court orders one parent to pay the other parent every month for the support of the child(ren). California has a formula (called a "guideline") for figuring out how much child support should be paid in all cases. Click here to learn more about how child support is calculated.
Child support payments are usually made until children turn 18, or 19 if they are still in high school full time, living at home, and can't support themselves. Click here to learn more about when child support ends.
You can ask the judge to make a child support order when you:
Parents who
- have signed a voluntary declaration of paternity, OR
- are married, or registered domestic partners, and don't want to get legally separated or divorced can also ask for a child support order when they file a Petition for Custody and Support of Minor Children (form FL-260).
Either parent can later ask the judge to change the support amount if the situation changes.
Every county has a family law facilitator who will help you for free to:
- Prepare forms,
- Explain court procedures for getting and changing child support orders,
- Calculate child support using the guideline, if you have the necessary financial information, and
- Explain how the court makes child support decisions.
The facilitator can also help you collect child support or change a child support order.
Click here to learn more about the family law facilitator and find the facilitator in your county.
Every county also has a local child support agency to help you get, change, and collect child support at no charge.
Click here to learn more about the local child support agency and find the local child support agency in your county. |
For more information, go to this Self-Help Center's section on Child, Spousal, & Partner Support.
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Spousal Support. When a couple separates or divorces, the court may order one spouse to pay the other a certain amount of support money each month. This is called "spousal support."
The judge will consider many things when deciding what spousal support to order. Examples of some things the judge may consider are:
- How long the couple has been married;
- The age and health of each spouse;
- How much income each can earn on their own;
- The expenses of each spouse;
- If there are minor children at home; and
- The history of how the couple handled money during the marriage.
Either spouse can later ask the judge to change the support amount if the situation changes.
For more information, go to this Self-Help Center's section on Child, Spousal, & Partner Support.
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Partner Support. When a couple separates or divorces, the court may order one domestic partner to pay the other a certain amount of support money each month. This is called "partner support."
The judge will consider many things when deciding what partner support to order. Examples of some things the judge may consider are:
- The length of the domestic partnership;
- The age and health of each domestic partner;
- How much income each can earn on their own;
- The expenses of each domestic partner;
- If there are minor children at home; and
- The history of how the couple handled money during the domestic partnership.
Either domestic partner can later ask the judge to change the support amount if the situation changes.
For more information, go to this Self-Help Center's section on Child, Spousal, & Partner Support.
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Last modified: 03/17/2008
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