Children rely on their parents, and when a couple gets divorced and/or breaks up, their child may require additional financial support to live the safest and healthiest version of their life that they can. If you are wondering how paternity affects child support in Los Angeles or are uncertain whether or not you are truly your child’s legal and/or biological father, a Los Angeles paternity lawyer can answer your questions and guide you forward as you make important decisions.

How Paternity Affects Child Support in Los Angeles?

There are approximately 1.1 million child support cases statewide, as well as 47 child support agencies across California. Of the 6.4 million custodial parents with child support agreements, 88% stated that they have legally ordered child support, while the remaining 12% have shared that they have informal agreements with their child’s other parent.

How Can I Establish Paternity in Los Angeles?

There are two main ways that a father can establish paternity in California; they are:

Their name is on the birth certificate. If the child was born during the time you and your partner were together and your name is on the birth certificate, most parents and court systems feel this is sufficient evidence to prove that you are legally the child’s father.
They perform a DNA test. The most compelling proof one has to show that they are, in fact, the child’s father is a paternity DNA test. This can be administered through the California court system, and if paternity is proven, your lawyer will be prepared to guide you through the next steps.

How Does Paternity Affect Child Support in Los Angeles?

Before you learn about how child support is impacted by paternity cases, it is wise to learn more about how the child support system works in general. Child support is determined by a host of factors, mostly both parents’ individual incomes, their ability to earn money and/or work, and which parent the child is living with predominantly. Child support funds can be used to meet your child’s basic needs, such as necessary clothing, food, rent, and more.

If you and your former spouse were married at the time of conception and birth, you both will be held financially responsible for your child. If this is not the case, you will need to prove paternity, and once that is resolved, the California court system may require you to pay child support, especially if you are not a custodial parent.

How May I Benefit From the Assistance of a Los Angeles Paternity and/or Child Support Lawyer?

Being a parent can be as difficult a responsibility as it is a joyous one. Adding the additional layer of the family legal system can make it feel more stressful and overwhelming. Fortunately, you do not need to shoulder the burden alone.

Whether you are waiting on the results of your paternity test or are trying to develop a child support agreement, Dorie A. Rogers, APC, can help you strategize what the next steps you should take are based on your goals and results.

If, for some reason, you are not able to settle your paternity and/or child support case without the help of the California court system, your lawyer will be able to schedule time for your case with a local courthouse. One potential option is the Lamoreaux Justice Center, which is both conveniently located and provides family legal services.

FAQs

Is a Paternity Test Required for Child Support in California?

Getting a paternity test is not always a required step when trying to establish whether or not someone is a parent. Some people simply refer to the birth certificate belonging to the child. There are, however, cases where a paternity test can prove to be invaluable, such as when there are doubts that one is actually the child’s father. A test can help bring a clear answer to this question.

Does the State of California Pay Child Support if the Father Does Not?

If the father does not pay his court-mandated child support payments on time and in full, the California court system will enforce the policy, going so far as to even send you to prison, make you pay fees, and still make you pay the payments you missed. This is why it is so important to set up a child support plan that you can work with for the foreseeable future, as it protects you from certain legal repercussions.

Does the Amount You Pay in Child Support Go Down if You Have Another Child in California?

In the state, there is no guaranteed decrease in payment if you have another child with a different individual. You and your child support lawyer in Los Angeles can bring it to the attention of the California court system to see if they would consider decreasing your first payment so that you can pay both, but this does not mean that you will definitely experience a lessening of financial responsibility to your first child and their child support agreement.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Los Angeles Paternity Lawyer?

There are several different factors that can have a direct impact on the final price you pay. The duration of your case and its complexity are two such examples and can cause the cost of hiring a paternity lawyer to fluctuate based on your unique situation. When you hire Dorie A. Rogers, APC, she will work hard to help you get both answers and results that you feel are worthy of the time and money you may spend on your paternity case.

Get More Information Today

You do not need to face the emotional highs and lows of family law alone, nor do you need to try and understand the complex world of legal jargon, procedures, and policy by yourself. Hiring a Los Angeles paternity lawyer can mean getting your questions answered and your desired outcomes validated.

When you hire Dorie A. Rogers, APC, she will work tirelessly to help you understand the ins and outs of your case, guiding you step by step, answering questions, and showing you what you can expect from each step. Her dedication and skillful insight will allow her to tackle the legal and administrative side of your case, freeing you to focus on what matters most: your family.

How Paternity Affects Child Support in Los Angeles?