Glendale Child Support Lawyer

Over 130 Years of Family Law Experience, Fighting for Glendale Families

Child support disputes touch every part of a family’s daily life, from housing stability to a child’s access to healthcare and education. At Holmes & Holmes, Attorneys at Law, we handle child support cases throughout Glendale and Southern California, including establishment, modification, and enforcement. Our attorneys bring over 130 years of combined family law experience to every case, hold a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating, and have been recognized by Super Lawyers Rising Stars. We serve clients in English, Spanish, and Armenian, reflecting the communities we’ve built our practice around.

Whether you’re a parent seeking an initial support order, responding to a modification request, or trying to collect payments that have gone unpaid, our attorneys are prepared to represent you in negotiation and in court. We offer initial consultations to walk through your situation and outline your legal options.

Why Glendale Families Choose Holmes & Holmes for Child Support

Our firm is led by a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), a credential issued by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and held by a small percentage of California attorneys. That designation reflects a rigorous standard of knowledge and experience in family law that goes well beyond general practice.

Family law matters filed by Glendale residents are handled through the Los Angeles Superior Court system. Our attorneys have practical familiarity with the local courts, judges, and procedural requirements that shape how child support cases move forward. That familiarity matters when deadlines are tight or when a case requires urgent relief.

We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Some child support matters are best resolved through a negotiated agreement that avoids the cost and delay of litigation. Others require a firm courtroom posture from the start. We assess each client’s circumstances and pursue the strategy that aligns with their goals. When settlement doesn’t fully protect a client’s interests, we litigate. We offer both flat-fee and hourly rate structures depending on the complexity of the matter.

How California Calculates Child Support

California uses a statewide uniform guideline formula governed by Family Code sections 4050 through 4076, with the core calculation set out in Family Code section 4055. The guideline amount is presumed correct under California law, and a judge can depart from it only in limited circumstances. Courts and attorneys use Judicial Council-approved calculator software to run the figures.

The formula’s two primary inputs are each parent’s net disposable income and the percentage of time each child spends with each parent, called the timeshare. Beyond those two variables, the court also considers:

• Income Sources: Wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and other financial sources are all counted. For parents with variable or business income, additional documentation is typically required to establish earnings accurately.
• Health Insurance and Childcare Costs: Premiums paid by either parent and childcare expenses related to work or job training can be factored into the calculation.
• Special Needs Expenses: Medical costs not covered by insurance, educational expenses, and therapy costs may be considered when they are significant and ongoing.
• Support for Other Children: Existing support obligations for children from other relationships can affect each parent’s net disposable income and, in turn, the guideline amount.

When Child Support Can Be Established in California

A California court can enter a child support order in several circumstances. If you’re going through a divorce or legal separation, child support is addressed as part of those proceedings. Parents who were never married must first establish parentage before a court can enter a support order. Parents who are separated but not divorced can seek an order through the local child support agency or through a private family court proceeding.

Under California Family Code § 3901, child support orders typically remain in effect until the child turns 18. If the child is unmarried, still enrolled full-time in high school, living at home, and not self-supporting, support continues until the child completes 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first. Courts may also order support for an adult child who can’t be self-supporting due to a disability.

We work to protect your financial interests from the earliest stage of the process, including requests for temporary orders when immediate support is needed.

Modifying a Child Support Order in California

California courts retain ongoing jurisdiction to modify child support at any time, and no private agreement between parents can remove the court’s authority to order guideline support. To obtain a modification, the requesting parent must show a material change in circumstances since the original order was entered.

Common triggers for a modification request include:

• Loss of employment or a significant reduction in income
• A substantial increase in either parent’s earnings
• Changes in custody or parenting time that shift the timeshare percentage
• Changes in health insurance costs or childcare expenses

We represent both paying and receiving parents in modification proceedings. If you believe the other parent’s income has changed significantly, we can help you gather the documentation needed to support a modification request and present it effectively to the court.

Enforcing Child Support Orders in Glendale

When a parent stops making required payments, California law provides several enforcement tools. Wage garnishment operates as an automatic income withholding order, deducting support directly from the paying parent’s paycheck before they receive it. Additional mechanisms include:

• Tax Refund Interception: State and federal tax refunds can be seized to satisfy overdue support.
• License Suspension: Driver’s, professional, and recreational licenses may be suspended until arrears are brought current.
• Bank Levies and Property Liens: The court can order levies against bank accounts or place liens on real property.
• Credit Reporting: Unpaid child support arrears can be reported to credit agencies.
• Criminal Charges: Willful failure to pay child support can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or, in certain circumstances, a felony under California law.

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 685.010, child support arrears accrue 10% annual interest, which can substantially increase the total amount owed the longer payments go unpaid. We help receiving parents identify which enforcement tools apply to their situation and pursue the ones available under the circumstances.

Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying Child Support in California?

Yes. A California judge can hold a non-paying parent in contempt of court, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 per violation and up to five days in jail per contempt count. Contempt requires the court to find that non-compliance was willful, and judges weigh that question carefully before imposing incarceration. Contempt proceedings are separate from criminal charges and can be pursued even when arrears are relatively modest.

Our attorneys can advise you on the realistic range of outcomes based on the specific facts of your case, whether you’re the parent seeking enforcement or the parent responding to a contempt motion.