When your child’s well-being is on the line, you deserve clear answers and strong legal guidance. At the Law Offices of Ali Yousefi, P.C., we help parents in San Mateo County understand, establish, and enforce fair child support orders.
Whether you are seeking support, requesting a modification, or defending against a claim, our goal is to protect your rights and your children’s best interests. Our child support lawyer also helps make sure the process stays fair, transparent, and predictable.
Understanding Child Support in California
In California, both parents share a legal duty to support their child. Each parent must contribute to their child’s living expenses and education. Child support is not a punishment or a reward—it’s a way to make sure children have what they need to thrive after a breakup, separation, or divorce.
When Can a Parent Request Child Support?
A parent can request child support when separating from or divorcing their child’s other parent. They can also request child support when they and the other parent break up or have a child without being in a relationship.
But before a parent can ask for child support, they must establish that the person they are requesting support from is the child’s parent. So let’s discuss what it means to establish parentage.
Establishing Parentage
Establishing parentage legally identifies a child’s parents and confirms their responsibility to provide support.
Parentage can be established in several ways, such as:
- Presumption of parenthood. The court presumes that an individual is a child’s parent if they were married to the child’s natural mother when the child was born or no more than 300 days before the child’s birth, or if the parents married or attempted to marry before the child’s birth.
- Voluntary declaration of parentage. A parent can voluntarily put their name on the birth certificate, make a written promise to support the child, or hold the child out as their own.
- Court order. If there’s a disagreement, either parent can ask the court to determine parentage. The court may order genetic testing to confirm biological ties.
Once parentage is legally established, the court can issue orders for child support, custody, and visitation.
How Child Support Is Calculated
California uses a statewide formula (or uniform guideline) to determine child support. This formula considers:
- Each parent’s net disposable income;
- The amount of time each parent spends with the child; and
- Certain mandatory deductions, such as taxes, health insurance premiums, and union dues.
The formula is complex, but the general principle is simple: The parent with fewer childcare responsibilities pays support to the other to help with the child’s standard of living between households.
Under California law, the guiding principles for child support include:
- A child should share in both parents’ standard of living,
- Both parents are responsible for their child’s financial well-being, and
- Child support should reduce disparities between the two households after separation.
Judges and child support enforcement professionals often rely on software programs to help ensure calculations are consistent. However, courts can sometimes deviate from the guideline amount if both parents agree to a different figure and the court finds it’s in the child’s best interest.
If you are facing a child support order that you believe is unfair, you may be able to terminate or suspend your payment obligations by proving that:
- You are not the child’s parent,
- You were incarcerated during the time support was demanded, or
- Your level of childcare obligations or income does not justify the support order.
Our experienced child support attorney can review the unique facts of your case and help ensure all family court orders are fair.
How Long Must a Parent Pay Child Support?
Typically, parents must support their children until they reach 18, or 19 if they are still in high school and living at home. In certain cases—such as when a child is unable to support themselves due to a disability—a support obligation may continue indefinitely.
Modifying Child Support Orders
Your child support order can change just as fast as your life does. If your (or the other parent’s) circumstances have significantly changed, you can ask the court for a modification.
Common reasons for modification include:
- Job loss or significant income change,
- Changes in custody or visitation time,
- New health or education expenses for the child, and
- Changes in either parent’s financial obligations.
In general, you must file a formal modification request with the court. And you may need to provide extensive proof of the change in circumstances (e.g., financial information).
Requesting Financial Information
To calculate or modify child support, both parents must exchange accurate financial information. Courts typically require:
- Income and expense declarations; and
- Proof of income, such as pay stubs, tax returns, or profit and loss statements.
If a parent fails to provide financial information, the other parent can serve them or their employer with a request for income information. Transparency is crucial. Providing complete and honest financial disclosures helps the court make a fair and accurate support order.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
If a parent fails to pay child support, several enforcement tools are available under California law, including:
- Wage garnishment;
- Interception of tax refunds or other government payments;
- Liens on property or bank accounts; and
- Driver’s license, professional license, or passport suspension until payments are made.
Unpaid child support—known as arrears—accrues interest until it’s paid in full. Courts take enforcement seriously, and judges can impose additional penalties for noncompliance.
If you’re owed support, you don’t have to face the system alone. An experienced child support attorney can help you navigate the process and use the right enforcement tools to recover what your child deserves.
Why an Experienced Child Support Lawyer Matters
Every county in California applies state law, but San Mateo County has its own procedures, timelines, and local rules. Judges, clerks, and family law facilitators may require specific forms or hearings that differ slightly from those in other counties. Working with a San Mateo child support attorney who understands the local system can make a big difference in how smoothly your case moves forward.
At the Law Offices of Ali Yousefi, P.C., we guide clients through every stage of a child support case, including:
- Establishing or contesting parentage,
- Filing or responding to child support petitions,
- Preparing accurate financial disclosures,
- Requesting or opposing modifications, and
- Enforcing unpaid support orders.
We combine our deep knowledge of California’s Family Code with compassion for the families we serve. We know these cases are about more than numbers—they’re about your child’s future stability and your peace of mind. We’ve helped parents resolve support disputes through negotiation, mediation, and litigation when necessary.
Take the First Step with Our Child Support Lawyer Today
If you live in San Mateo or a nearby community and need help with child support, don’t wait to get legal guidance. The sooner you act, the more options you have to protect your rights and your child’s interests.
At the Law Offices of Ali Yousefi, P.C., our award-winning team is here to help you understand the law, navigate the system, and reach a fair outcome. Call us today or visit our website to schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney who cares about your family’s future.