General
Statute: Cal. Family Code §§ 4050-4076
Last Updated:
Authority: Statute
Model: Income Shares
Economic Study: van der Gaag
Responsibility: Judicial Council of California
Approval: California Legislature
Last Review ( )
Previous Review ( )
Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) Schedule
No table – formula used
Income Base: Net
BCSO Factors/Assumptions/Adjustments
Age: No
Cost of living:
Expenditures Measurement:
Low-Income:
Medical Expenses:
Parenting Time:
Poverty Level:
Price Level:
Subsequent Children: Yes. May deduct from income
Taxes:
Low-Income1
SSR/LI Adjustment: Yes
SSR/LI Adjustment Amt: $1,500 net disposable monthly income annual adjusted for California CPI-U
SSR/LI Adjustment Application: Presumptive if income below $1,500
Threshold Income: $1,500 net disposable monthly income for obligator
Limitations: Child support reduction for obligator can be less than certain amount.
Minimum Child Support Amount: No
Limitations on Minimum Child Support Amount: Court may adjust order due to extreme hardship
Deviation Factors
Medical Expenses
Ordinary:
Extraordinary:
Childcare Expenses
Education Expenses
Deviation Factor
Modification
30% or $50, whichever is greater
Termination5
Citation: Family Code §3901
Age of Majority: 18 years of age
Ends: Majority except an unmarried child who has attained the age of 18 years, is a full-time high school student, and who is not self-supporting, is considered a minor until the time the child completes the 12th grade or attains the age of 19 years, whichever occurs first.
College Support beyond Age of Majority: No statute or case law holding parents to a duty to college support in the absence of an agreement.
Exception for Adults with Disabilities: Parents have equal responsibility to maintain an incapacitated child and unable to earn a living
Citation: Family Code §3910
Criminal Penalties for Nonpayment3
Citation: Cal. Penal Code, §270
Crime: Misdemeanor
Maximum Penalty: 1 year, $2,000
Interest and Arrears4
Citation: California Civ. Pro. § 685.010
Arrears: Yes
Summary: 10% per annum. Interest accrues beginning the first day of the month following either the date the installment is due (if payable in installments), or from the date of entry of judgment
License Restrictions for failing to pay Child Support2
Citation: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 490.5 Cal. Fam. Code § 17520
Type: Driver’s, Occupational Recreational Professional Business Notary public
Arrears Threshold: 30 calendar days or more
Reinstatement: One-time temporary license will be issued for 150 days. A driver’s license, excluding commercial driver’s licenses, may be extended an additional 150 days.
State Contact
Name: Mr. David Kilgore
Title: Director
Email:
Phone Number: 1-866-249-0773
Address: Department of Child Support Services, P.O. Box 419064, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9064
Links
Child Support Calculator
FindLaw
References
1Judicial Council of California, Review of Statewide Uniform Child Support Guideline, October 25, 2017
2https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/license-restrictions-for-failure-to-pay-child-support.aspx
3https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/criminal-nonsupport-and-child-support.aspx
4https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/interest-on-child-support-arrears.aspx
5https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/termination-of-child-support-age-of-majority.aspx