Raising a child takes love, time, and financial support. When parents separate or are not together, questions about child support often become some of the hardest to face. At the Law Offices of Ali Yousefi, P.C., our highly experienced child support lawyer helps San Francisco parents understand their rights and responsibilities under California’s laws. Our legal team guides parents through every stage of a support case with compassion and clarity.
You Want What Is Best for Your Child
In the midst of a breakup, you want your child to have stability and the resources they need to grow and thrive. But navigating California’s child support system can be confusing. Whether you’re seeking support, defending against a claim, or need to adjust an existing order, you deserve an attorney who knows California’s Family Code and understands San Francisco County’s local rules and timelines.
That’s where we come in. We help parents find fair, lasting legal solutions so that they can focus on their child’s well-being.
A Parent’s Obligation to Support Their Child
Under California’s Family Code, both parents have an equal duty to support their child. This obligation usually continues until the child turns 18 (or 19 if they are still in high school and living at home).
The law recognizes that children are entitled to share in both parents’ standard of living. That means support isn’t just about food and shelter—it’s about ensuring that your child’s day-to-day life remains as stable as possible.
In short, child support exists for your child’s benefit, not as a penalty or reward for either parent. So, let’s get into how you can make a request for child support or defend yourself against a child support claim.
Establishing Parentage
Before child support can be ordered, parentage must be established. This means that the law must recognize who the child’s legal parents are. You can establish parentage in one of the following ways.
A Presumption Because of Marriage and Cohabitation
In general, the court presumes both spouses in a marriage are a child’s legal parents if the child was born while the spouses were married and cohabitating. However, with some exceptions, this presumption may not apply to a husband who was dealing with infertility or a sexual dysfunction at the time of the child’s conception.
A Voluntary Declaration of Parentage
If parents were unmarried when a child was born or conceived, a parent can sign a voluntary declaration of parentage. After they sign this declaration, a parent can file it with the California Department of Child Support Services to legally establish their rights.
Genetic Testing
If a party disputes parentage, either parent can ask the court for genetic testing. Once parentage is confirmed, the court can issue orders for custody, visitation, and child support.
Establishing parentage is often the first and most important step in protecting a child’s right to financial support. Our knowledgeable child support lawyer can help you choose the best pathway to establishing the parentage of any child in your support case.
Requesting Child Support
There are two main ways to request child support in California:
- Through the local child support agency. The San Francisco Department of Child Support Services can help parents establish and enforce orders. However, the process may not address all a parent’s related custody or visitation issues.
- Through the family court. A parent can file a child support request with San Francisco’s Unified Family Court. This allows a judge to determine parentage, calculate support, make custody determinations, and issue enforceable orders.
Each path listed above has its benefits, and our experienced child support attorney can help you decide which is best based on your case’s complexity and urgency.
How Child Support Is Calculated in California
California uses a uniform statewide guideline or formula to calculate child support. The formula considers:
- Each parent’s income (including wages, bonuses, self-employment income, and certain benefits),
- The amount of time each parent spends with the child, and
- Tax deductions and expenses like health insurance and union dues.
The goal is to ensure fairness and consistency. The guideline also notes that a child should share in both parents’ standard of living. Remember that courts are not in the business of regularly handing down bare bones orders that cover only a child’s essential needs.
Courts and government agencies often calculate child support by using computer software. Our child support lawyer can help you understand how the numbers apply to your situation and can help make sure that those in authority consider every relevant source of income and expense.
Modifying Child Support
When your life changes in a significant way, it might be time to ask for a change to your support order. Either parent can request a modification when there is a material change in circumstances, such as:
- A significant increase or decrease in income (for either parent),
- A change in custody or parenting time,
- A job loss or disability, or
- New financial obligations (like supporting another child).
You can submit a request through the court or through the California Department of Child Support Services. Our child support lawyer can help ensure that your financial documents are accurate and persuasive and that your request is filed correctly to avoid delays.
Remember: Until the court signs a new order, the existing order remains enforceable, so you should act quickly if your circumstances change.
Enforcing Child Support
When a parent falls behind or refuses to honor their child support obligations, California law provides strong tools to enforce payment. Enforcement tools include the following.
Income Withholding and Garnishment
Many support orders include automatic income withholding—meaning payments are deducted directly from the paying parent’s paycheck. And under the law, employers must comply with these orders.
The IRS and the U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement also allow garnishment of federal benefits, such as tax refunds and certain government payments, to collect past-due support. Additionally, the court can take a parent’s property to cover missed payments.
License and Passport Suspension
The California Department of Child Support Services may suspend driver’s licenses, professional licenses, passports, or recreational licenses for delinquent parents until they make satisfactory payment arrangements.
Contempt and Other Remedies
If other methods fail, the court can find a parent in contempt of court, which may lead to fines, wage assignments, or even jail time in severe cases. These enforcement tools are designed to ensure that children receive the financial support to which they are entitled.
The Local Experience of Our Child Support Lawyer Matters
San Francisco has its own county-specific family law rules, hearing schedules, and procedures. Small procedural errors can delay a case or lead to inaccurate calculations.
Our legal team understands how the judges and child support professionals in San Francisco handle child support hearings, what documentation they expect, and how to present your case effectively.
At the Law Offices of Ali Yousefi, P.C., we have helped parents throughout the Bay Area resolve child support disputes with professionalism, empathy, and results-driven advocacy.
Contact a San Francisco Child Support Attorney Today
If you have questions about child support in California, schedule a consultation with the Law Offices of Ali Yousefi, P.C. Our award-winning advocate can explain your options clearly, help you make informed decisions, and stand by you through every step. You’ve done your part as a parent—now let us help ensure the law does its part too. Contact us online or by phone today.