Newport Beach Child Support Lawyer2023-12-13T11:20:11+00:00

Child support is one of the most contentious matters unfolding in California family court. The family court system upholds that every child is entitled to financial support from both their parents. As a result, it’s possible for both married parents who decide to divorce and unmarried parents who decide to raise their children separately as single parents need child support orders. These orders are intended to reflect the parents’ respective custody rights and their children’s needs.

Legal Representation for Newport Beach Child Support Cases

If you are preparing to divorce in Newport Beach, CA, or if you and your co-parent have decided to live separately and raise your children as single parents, you should prepare accordingly for a child support determination. The court will want to ensure your child has the financial support they need to satisfy their basic living needs, and the process of determining child support for your children is much easier when you have an attorney on your side.

Why You Need a Newport Beach Child Support Attorney

It’s common for parents to have unrealistic expectations regarding child support. An experienced Newport Beach child support lawyer can help a parent stay grounded and focused during emotionally stressful legal proceedings and help them reach a reasonable child support determination that suits their child’s best interests. In addition, your Newport Beach child support lawyer can provide several valuable legal services that allow you to approach your case with confidence and peace of mind.

While it is technically possible to handle your child support determination without an attorney, doing so is more complex than many parents realize at first. Having the right attorney on your side makes the process much easier to handle and is more likely to generate a reasonable and agreeable support determination. In addition, without an attorney, you could overlook vital information that significantly alters the outcome of the judge’s determination. Ultimately, hiring a Newport Beach child support attorney to represent you not only benefits you personally but also helps to ensure your child has an appropriate support order in place that fully addresses their unique needs.

How Is Child Support Determined in California?

Child support and child custody are closely linked in California family law. Child support determinations unfold in family court under the supervision of a judge who has the final say regarding custody and support for a child. The judge must evaluate several factors to reach a fair and reasonable support determination, including the incomes of each of the child’s parents, how much time each parent spends with the child and the child’s unique needs.

Most custody determinations result in one parent assuming greater custody rights than the other. This is because judges tend to strive toward granting as close to equal custody rights as they can whenever possible. However, suppose one parent works too much to assume significant physical custody rights or has proven to be an unfit parent. In that case, the other parent is likely to obtain a more significant share of custody.

The noncustodial parent is the parent who spends less time with their children than the other, and they will likely owe child support to the custodial parent. The judge overseeing the case will calculate the total amount of child support the child requires each month and then evaluate each parent’s custody rights to determine which parent will pay child support to the other. A higher-earning noncustodial parent will almost certainly owe child support to a lower-earning custodial parent. Unless both parents earn the same amount of income, have the same monthly expenses, and the same parental rights, one parent will ultimately owe child support to the other.

Enforcement of Child Support Payment in California

It’s common for noncustodial parents to believe their child support obligations are unfair or unbalanced. However, it is crucial to abide by a child support order in California. The state has several methods to enforce the terms of a support order. For example, suppose a paying parent refuses to continue paying child support or repeatedly fails to pay support on time. In that case, the family court may move to garnish wages, seize property, or even incarcerate the noncompliant parent for contempt of court.

If you believe you have grounds to request a change to your child support order, a Newport Beach child support attorney can help. Your attorney can help you file a petition for modification that seeks reasonable changes to your support order, helping ensure that you can meet your obligation without unreasonable burdens.

Orange County Child Support FAQs

The team at the Dorie A. Rogers has years of experience handling a wide range of child support cases on behalf of our clients in the Newport Beach, CA, area. As a result, we understand the common concerns and questions parents are likely to have in this challenging situation. Below are some of the questions we hear most frequently from prospective clients.

Q: How Much Does a Child Support Lawyer Cost in California?
A:
It’s natural to be concerned about the potential cost of your legal fees. Most family law attorneys will charge by the hour. The more time your Newport Beach child support lawyer must spend working on your case, the more your legal fees will cost at the end of your case.

Q: Is It Necessary to Get a Lawyer for a Child Support Case?
A:
You can technically represent yourself in a child support case, but this is not advisable. Hiring an experienced attorney to represent you is more likely to lead to an agreeable and balanced child support order that suits your child’s needs.

Q: Can I Change My Child Support Order in Newport Beach?
A:
The modification process exists to help parents adjust child support orders in light of unexpected life events. If you lost your job due to forces beyond your control, suffered a severe injury that prevents you from working, or experienced any other unforeseen major event, your Newport Beach child support lawyer can help you navigate the modification process and secure the changes you need.

Navigating a child support case can be a stressful ordeal, but it will be much easier for you to approach this situation with confidence with an experienced Newport Beach child support attorney on your side. If you are ready to discuss your case with a reliable attorney, contact the Dorie A. Rogers today to schedule a consultation with our team.

Newport Beach child support lawyer

At The Dorie A. Rogers

APC, we represent clients both initiating and defending against child support actions. Our Irvine child support attorneys counsel and advocate for clients in issues related to initial calculation, failure to pay, modifications and enforcement of existing child support orders.

Backed by more than 30 years of experience and extensive qualifications, we are committed to protecting the rights and interests of clients dealing with even the most complex child support matters, including cases involving parties with considerable wealth.

Contact us to schedule a consultation. We serve clients throughout Orange County and Riverside County, California.

Reviews Quotes
“Dorie is a very powerful attorney and a great asset to have on your side in any family legal matter. She is extremely bright and insightful, and I got everything I asked for in my lawsuit.”
Brit B.
“I would strongly recommend Ms. Dorie Rogers for any legal needs. During my Divorce proceedings, Dorie’s professionalism, expertise in Divorce Law and legal skill helped bring my case to a close in both a timely and mutually agreeable manner.

Additionally, Dorie took the time to understand me and my background to better represent me in my case. She showed a level of caring and concern that helped me through a very difficult time. She is an outstanding lawyer and wonderful person.”

Alan M. Greenberg
“Second to none – I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dorie to anyone. She was my attorney for my divorce and custody case. She will do everything it takes to get the job done and all with a smile on her face. Her knowledge and expertise will assist anyone in a family law situation get the results they want.”
Todd M.

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