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Child Support in Santa Barbara County – An Overview

In many circumstances such as divorce, separation & paternity child support is a factor needing to be addressed. If a person has never dealt with a court or government agency that makes binding orders on them before, the thought of having to “enter into the system” may be a scary thought. This overview provided some top level information about Child Support in Santa Barbara County.

Eligibility for Child Support in Santa Barbara County

The first question many people may wonder is if they are eligible for child support. In situations where a family has separated (divorce, separation, paternity…) the court and agencies aim to make sure the needs of the minor children are met. When the household of a child is divided courts and agencies strive to make sure there is little financial impact on the well being of the child and therefore child support can be ordered. It should be noted that each situation is different and for a full breakdown of rights and responsibilities a consultation with a Family Law Attorney in Santa Barbara County may be the best first stop. It should also be understood, as discussed below, a child support number is not what you think it should be, but rather a state-wide calculation that takes into account several factors.

Courts & Agencies for Santa Barbara County Child Support

The two most common places in Santa Barbara County for someone to address child support would be the Santa Barbara Superior Family Law Courts and the Santa Barbara County Department of Child Support Services. Each provide child support services, but the extend offered is very different. Understanding what is the best option can depend on your situation and other external factors.

Generally the Family Law Courts will provide orders for child support in conjunction with a divorce, custody or paternity case. Custody and visitation are being ordered and child support can be added to the court order all under one family law case. The court also handles modification and termination of these orders.

On the other hand, Department of Child Support Services exclusively focuses on child support. They do not make orders for custody and visitation like the court but do help collect and enforce the child support order when the court does not. This could include garnishments, tax refund interception, revocation of state licenses and more. In some cases you may not have a choice on who handles your case if you receive governmental assistance such as food stamps or medi-cal in which Department of Child Support Services may open a case for you before you even ask. As mentioned above, understand your rights and responsibilities before you choose either one agency to handle your case as you may run into issues down the line. It should also be noted that the two agencies can often work together providing a “best of both worlds”, but sometimes at a cost of increased processing times, and confusion and mix-ups between the two very large governmental departments.

How is Child Support Calculated in California

My expenses are $3,500.00 per month and I only make $2,500.00, therefore my child support should be $1,000.00 a month. Well it isn’t as simple as that. Child support takes into account many factors to determine what the monthly amount ordered should be. The main factors in calculating child support in Santa Barbara County is the income of each parent and the time share (visitation). These numbers are plugged into a California State Child Support Calculator as well as several other significant factors to generate a “guideline” number. Other factors can include health insurance and medical costs, child care expenses, retirement and union due deductions from gross income and more. Special financial hardships or special financial and educational needs of the child may also impact the total support order. The above link to the calculator should be used for a general informational tool, but not a guarantee or concrete number of support. A family law attorney can advise as to what factors may be evident in your case and provide a clearer estimate.

Establishing Child Support in Santa Barbara County

For residents in Santa Barbara County who are looking to establish a child support order, meaning no current case is open, it can be handled in one of the two common agencies listed above, Court or Department of Child Support Services (DCSS). With the Santa Barbara County Family Law Courts child support is often filed within a more specific case like divorce, separation, paternity or custody & visitation. With DCSS, the child support can be addresses apart from those other family law related issues. Again, research and consult with a local family law attorney to understand what option may be best for you.

Modifying Child Support in Santa Barbara County

Modifications in child support are very common. As mentioned above the child support calculation is the sum of many factors and when those factors change so will the output. The most common change in circumstance that impacts a child support calculation is income. Loss of job, reduction in hours, a raise or promotion either move gross income up or down, and so moves the child support number. Another major factor would be the timeshare of the child has changed as they spend more or less time with either parent. Modifying the support on an open case is typically not hard to do. With DCSS a person can talk with their local office and representative to present the changes at which time they can initiate the process to verify and adjust the support order. With the court a request for a hearing to modify support can be filed and a hearing is scheduled within about 6 weeks at which time the court can evaluate the current circumstances and run a new guideline. With both agencies there are also some options when both parties agree to modify the support number. These options are faster and do not require hearings or visits to the agency.

Terminating Child Support in Santa Barbara County

Can I terminate my child support? Sure you can, but only for certain reasons. In California child support goes on until the child is no longer a minor (over 18), but in some case until the age 19. Losing your income and having no income may not terminate a support order, but just temporarily change the order to $0.00. Common reasons a termination of child support occurs is the child reaches age of majority or death of a parent.

Closing Remarks

As mentioned several times above, opening or modifying a child support case involves many different factors and potential responsibilities, rights and liabilities. If a person is unsure how they should proceed to initiate or modify a child support order in Santa Barbara County they Should consult with a family law attorney.


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