Child support

Sacramento and San Francisco Child Support Attorney

When you’re going through a divorce, you are not only dealing with your own future and life but also those of any young children who are involved. Minor children are always affected by divorce and their lives are forever changed. In addition to helping them navigate this emotional time, in more practical terms, you are responsible for their financial needs. 

Child support is part of any divorce settlement reached between the spouses, whether this is done at court or through a mediation process. Child support helps to ensure that minor children continue to enjoy the same standard of living that they are accustomed to.

After establishing all the facts of your case, Sacramento child support lawyer Alan Mikshansky can advise you about what to expect in the California child support process. Whether you’re fighting for child support, contesting it, or need to modify a child support agreement as a result of changes to your financial situation, Alan Mikshanksy will ensure that your interests and the best interests of your child are properly represented.

California Child Support

Child support payments are generally made by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent until the child turns 18. In addition, such payments are used in joint custody cases if there’s a significant income disparity between the parents or the child spends more time with one of the parents.

Defining Income and Need for Child Support in California

One of the first concerns many clients have is about the amount of child support they will pay or receive after divorce. In California child support issues, a statewide established formula determines the amount of the support payment. However, the child support amount is not necessarily predictable. While the formula can’t be changed, the parties may dispute the amounts used in the formula. The formula is based on the following factors:

• the income of each of the parents
• assets
• timeshare custody, that is, the time spent with each parent
• other discretionary factors, like any special needs a child may have

Establishing income and plugging it into the formula is more straightforward when a parent earns a salary or hourly wage. But this isn’t always the case, especially with high-net-worth individuals or when a parent earns an income on an irregular basis. A parent may receive income through several businesses, investments, or other more complex means. That is why it is important to work with a child support attorney who has extensive experience handling complex financial matters.

Depending on the case, the Office Law of Alan Mikshansky can use accounting or finance professionals to investigate and use discovery to get an accurate picture of the other party’s income. These professionals work with attorneys to establish the facts, and, when necessary, the child support attorney may bring the case to court when one of the parties isn’t open about the income involved.

California Child Support Lawyer

As an experienced Sacramento child support lawyer with extensive experience handling financial issues, Alan Mikshansky can manage this process to provide you with a successful outcome. His experience in business and finance means that he can help you establish fair values for child support formulas and avoid unfair orders.

In many cases, both parties want to resolve disputes without the expense and time required for a trial. Alan Mikshansky will represent you in child support settlement discussions, and he will work with the opposing party to achieve a favorable decision through compromise. Where arriving at a child support agreement fails outside of court, Alan Mikshansky will effectively litigate the case on your behalf for the best possible outcome for you and your child(ren).

The Law Office of Alan Mikshansky is certified in Family Law by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization.