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Child support

Child support is the amount of money that a court tells a parent to pay every month. This money is to help pay for the children’s living expenses.

Obtaining an Order for Support

Child support is the amount of money the court orders a parent to pay each month for the support of a minor child or children. California has a formula called "Guideline Child Support" for calculating child support.

Before the court can make an order for child support, there must be an open court case and parentage must be established.

Some types of cases where child support may be ordered include, but are not limited to:

  • Divorce, legal separation, or annulment
  • Establishment of Parentage
  • Domestic violence

Child support payments usually end when children turn 18, or 19 if they are still in high school full time, living at home with a parent, and cannot support themselves. Parents may agree to support a child/ren longer. The court may also order that both parents continue to support a disabled adult child who is not self-supporting.

How do I Calculate Child Support?

Before you file papers with the court to establish a child support order or to modify an existing child support order, you may want to calculate what the monthly child support amount may be. If you want to know the amount of child support that would be payable under the California State Child Support Guideline, you may contact an attorney or go to the Guideline Calculator | CA Child Support Services.

Either parent can later ask the judge to change the amount of support if the financial situation of the parent changes.

What to Do When You Have An Order?

Once a child support is made or modified, it must be registered with the Department of Child Support Services within 10 days. Please refer to the Yolo Court Order Flyer for additional information, or you may contact your local child support office.

Department of Child Support Services (DCSS)

The Colusa, Sutter, Yolo Department of Child Support Services can help you with child support only and not with any other family law issues, such as child custody, property division, or a divorce.