Topics:
You can find additional materials on family law by browsing the library shelves near the listed books or by searching the library catalog.
The statewide uniform guidelines that determine child support are found in the California Family Code, section 4055. There are several options for calculating the estimated amount of child support that may be ordered in your case. The results will be only a guideline; the court can look at other factors in awarding child support.
1. The simpler your finances, the more useful you will find Chapter 5 of the Nolo Press book, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California. It has really good information on calculating child support by hand. The book is in the law library, in many public libraries, and it is for sale in most bookstores and from the publisher at www.nolo.com.
2. Do it yourself online calculator. The website of the California Department of Child Support Services has an online child support calculator. The calculator is available at www.childsup.ca.gov/calculator. This is the official calculator used by Family Court Commissioners.
3. The Family Division of the Sacramento Superior Court offers a free service in which a Pro Tem judge runs a support calculation computer program using information supplied by the individual. The software calculates the amounts of child support and/or spousal support that individuals will pay under California law. The following information is needed from you for the calculation:
- The gross income of each parent.
- The percentage of time the child(ren) spend with a non-custodial parent.
- The tax filing status of each parent.
- Amounts spent by each parent on health insurance, retirement, and child care.
This walk-in service is available Tuesday mornings, 9:00 am - 11:00 am in Department 128 at the Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse.
Further information about child support is available from the following resources.
SELF HELP
Self-help materials provide "plain English" explanations of the law, written by attorneys or other legal professionals. These books include basic procedures, forms with instructions, and models of other documents that may be required.
Books:
Websites:
- California Courts Self-Help website
http://courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-support.htm
This website provides information, instructions, and forms for setting up or modifying support orders.
- Nolo Press Self-Help Law Center
http://www.nolo.com
This website contains legal information for non-attorneys. The "family law" section includes information about child support.
IN DEPTH RESEARCH
These are "practitioner's guides" aimed at attorneys; they contain a lot of information about the law, procedures, motions, and forms.
FORMS
Child support cases require the use of mandatory statewide Judicial Council forms, as well as some Sacramento County local forms. Both types of forms are available:
- In Room 10 at the Family Relations Courthouse
- At the Law Library, to photocopy or on computers
- On the Internet (see the "Websites" section below).
Samples of completed forms are available in many of the books listed above. For blank forms, try the following resources:
Books:
Websites:
- Judicial Council Forms (www.courts.ca.gov/forms). These mandatory forms can be filled out online.
- EZ Legal File (www.saccourt.ca.gov). This program on the court's home page helps you fill out required family law forms through a question and answer format.
- Sacramento County Local Court Forms (www.saccourt.com/index/fees.asp). These cannot be filled out online. You can print them out or download them.
- US Court Forms (library use only). This program, available on the library's public computers, allows users to save filled-out Judicial Council and local forms.
STATUTES
All of the materials listed above will refer you to sections of the California Codes.
Books:
- Deering's California Code Annotated KFC30.5 .D4
- Deering's includes model wording for forms after some of the code sections.
- West's Annotated California Codes KFC30 .W48
Websites:
- California State Codes (www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html)
- Check the box for Family Code, then search by word or press Enter to browse by Table of Contents.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Family Law Facilitator
3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento
Services provided: The Family Law Facilitator's office provides workshops on many aspects of the child support process. Appointments are required to attend most workshops. To sign up for a workshop, visit the Self Help Center in Room 113 of the Family Relations Courthouse, Monday through Thursday.
Department of Child Support Services
3701 Power Inn Road, Sacramento
866.901.3212
Services provided: The Department of Child Support Services can assist at all stages of a child support action including locating absent parents, establishing parentage, obtaining court ordered child support awards including medical insurance, and collecting payments pursuant to the award. The services of the DCSS are free to all parents and children in California.
updated 12/10/2010 mpj
revised 1/23/12 mpj