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Top Mistakes to Avoid in California Child Support Cases

In California, child support cases can be emotionally charged and legally complex. Parents always want what’s best for their children, but errors during the legal process can lead to long-term financial and emotional repercussions. It is essential for both the paying and receiving parents to recognize common pitfalls that could jeopardize their case. In this blog, we will outline the top five mistakes often made in California child support cases and, more importantly, how to avoid them.

1. Failing to Provide Accurate Financial Information

One of the most common mistakes in California child support cases is failing to disclose accurate income and expense information. The child support calculation is heavily based on both parents’ income, so withholding or misrepresenting information can backfire. Courts can access financial records and may impute income based on earning potential if they suspect deception.

How to avoid it: Always provide complete and truthful documentation of your income, including pay stubs, tax returns, and any other sources of earnings. Transparency builds credibility and helps ensure a fair and accurate support amount.

2. Ignoring Court Orders

Disobeying a court-ordered child support arrangement is a serious mistake. Late payments or failure to pay altogether can lead to wage garnishment, fines, or even jail time. Some parents assume they can adjust payments on their own if their financial situation changes.

How to avoid it: Follow the court order strictly unless it’s officially modified. If your financial circumstances change, immediately file a motion to modify the support order rather than making unilateral changes.

3. Not Keeping Track of Payments

Many parents fail to keep a clear record of child support payments, especially when they are made informally via cash, apps, or personal checks. Without proper documentation, you could be accused of missing payments even if you paid on time.

How to avoid it: Use official payment methods like California’s State Disbursement Unit or request receipts for every transaction. Maintain a detailed log of payment dates, amounts, and methods to protect yourself in any disputes.

4. Overlooking the Impact of Custody Arrangements

Child support calculations in California consider how much time each parent spends with the child. Misunderstanding or misrepresenting custody time can significantly impact your financial obligations.

How to avoid it: Be honest about your custody schedule and ensure that any changes are documented and agreed upon in writing. Work with your attorney to present accurate information to the court when determining or modifying support amounts.

5. Not Seeking Legal Guidance

Many individuals attempt to handle child support cases without legal assistance, thinking it will save money. Unfortunately, this often leads to avoidable errors that cost more in the long run.

How to avoid it: Consult an experienced family law attorney to guide you through the process, especially if your case involves complex income, disputes, or custody arrangements. A legal expert can help you protect your rights and ensure compliance with California law.

Related: Learn more about when it makes sense to modify a court order here.

Conclusion

Navigating child support cases in California can be complex, but avoiding common mistakes can make a significant difference in the outcome. If you’re dealing with a child support issue or need help understanding your legal options, Family Law Richard E. Young & Associates in Lake Forest, CA, is here to provide trusted guidance and support. Visit richardeyoungattorney.net to schedule your consultation with our experienced family law attorney.

Types of Child Custody You Need To Know

Divorce is a very sensitive matter, and when children are involved in a divorce, there may be an impact on their emotional and mental health. Therefore, it becomes important for both parents to deal with this matter with the utmost care and consciousness. So, if you’re a divorcing couple and wish to learn more about the process of child custody, continue reading.

Types of Child Custody

There are two different types of custody. The following are:

1. Physical custody

a. Joint

b. Sole

2. Legal custody

a. Joint

b. Sole legal

Let’s learn about both custodies in detail.

  1. Physical custody

Physical custody helps in determining what percentage of time the child lives with each parent.

Factors The Court May Consider When Awarding Physical Custody

  • Which child is going to school?
  • Where is the child currently living?
  • Which parent is more attentive to the child’s physical, emotional, educational, and special needs?
  • Which parent has spent more time with the child?

2. Legal custody

Legal custody gives more rights to one parent to make major decisions about their child’s:

  • Education
  • Health
  • Religious Upbringing
  • Doctor, Dentist, Orthodontist, or Other Healthcare Professionals (except in emergency situations)
  • Sports, Summer Camps
  • Travel and Vacation
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Residence

In addition, in legal custody, either parent can decide alone; both parents do not have to agree on every decision about these aspects of their children’s lives. But to avoid ending up back in court and having more conflicts, it is suggested that both parents should communicate with each other and cooperate in making decisions together for the wellbeing of their children.

The Bottom Line

For a comprehensive overview of the child custody and visitation process, contact the team at Family Law Richard E. Young & Associates. We are well-versed in California laws and will work directly with you to reach your desired results. Contact our firm today at (949) 951-9529 or visit our website for further information.

Reasons to Hire a Professional Attorney for Document Preparation

When it comes to document preparation, many people start off by creating their own legal documents just to save a few dollars. Though we are not saying that one must not do self-help document preparation, when you have a professional attorney to help you, why take the risk? People must understand that document preparation is not just about printing and filing a few documents. Instead, it requires professional editing, reviewing, and drafting. To help you understand better, we have listed some important reasons why you should use a legal attorney instead of self-help document preparation.

Legal Advice

An attorney can offer you better professional support and legal advice than an ordinary document preparation service provider. How is this? It’s because an attorney has more knowledge about the ins and outs of court and can help you meet your needs and achieve your legal goals.

Related: “Not All Divorce Attorneys Are Created Equal”

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Not having a professional attorney review and fine-tune your documentation can lead to additional issues in court. Therefore, hiring a professional attorney will help you handle the fine legal details in a way that won’t affect your case and will help you achieve your goal in court.

Professional Assistance and Guidance

When you fail to explain your situation and protect your legal rights, that is when you need to consult a licensed attorney. They will carefully listen to you and help you understand the legal process in a way that makes sense to you as a client. In addition, they will also help you fill out legal documentation for court so you can be prepared.

Related: “Why You Need to Call on a Parental Rights Attorney”

 Conclusion

Though there are many attorneys available in the industry, your priority should be to seek help from a qualified, professional attorney who has knowledge and a background in the legal matters pertaining to your specific case.  

Are you searching for an attorney in Orange County that you can trust? Let Family Law Richard E. Young & Associates be your first choice. We have a dedicated team of attorneys who work with a diverse clientele. For legal assistance, contact our law firm at (949) 951-9529. You can also visit our website for more information.

Grounds for Nullifying a Prenup

When you sign a prenuptial agreement with your spouse, you are agreeing to the terms written in the document. However, there are certain situations where a prenup can be nullified. If there is evidence in the agreement that can be challenged, you can talk to a lawyer to discuss any legal questions or concerns you have about the contents of the document. Learn more about the grounds you can use to nullify a prenuptial agreement.

Unconscionability

An unconscionable contract is one that is so one-sided that it is unfair to one party and therefore unenforceable under law. It is a type of contract that leaves one party with no real, meaningful choice, usually due to major differences in bargaining power between the parties. If a prenuptial agreement is considered unconscionable in court, then the judge can void it.

Failure to Disclose

Both parties need to disclose any information regarding wealth and assets. The reason behind this disclosure is to decide on the amount of alimony or property division in the event of a divorce. If your partner hides any personal assets or valuable interests, then there’s reasonable grounds to challenge the prenup. You can state you were unaware of extra funds and other properties before signing.

Coercion

Boyd Law states “the courts will throw out a prenuptial agreement if a spouse can prove that someone coerced him or her into signing the document. Coercion can take the form of blackmail, threats, or simply undue pressure.” An example of this can be if your partner had you sign the day before or on the wedding and you didn’t have enough time to look at it thoroughly.

Conclusion

The lawyers at Family Law Richard E. Young & Associates have many years of practice handling legal cases, including prenuptial agreements. If you or a loved one needs to speak with an attorney, contact our family law firm to get the legal assistance you need. You can also visit our website here for more information.