Frequently Asked Questions

What is child support?
Child support is monetary payments that are made by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent.  Support payments are made to ensure the security and well-being of the parent’s child.  Payments are made until the child reaches the legal age of 18.

How often are payments made?
Child support payments are usually made once very month until the child/children turn the legal age of 18.  In most, if not all cases, child support is automatically deducted from the non-custodial parent’s pay check by wage assignment. 

What costs do child support payments cover?
Child support payments cover the cost of the child’s food, shelter, educational expenses, medical expenses, and other day-to-day necessities. 

What happens if I fail to pay child support?
If you fail to pay child support, you may be subject to an “earnings withholding order”.  This means that past due payments will automatically be deducted from your paycheck, along with current child support payments.  Additionally, any parent who is severely past due on his/her child support payments can be held in “contempt of court”, and may be subject to large fines or jail time.   

How much child support will I have to pay?
To determine the amount of child support payment, the court will total the income of both parents.  Then, the court will factor in a percentage of the non-custodial parent’s income.  This percentage will then be multiplied by the number of children who are eligible for support.  The amount of child support to be paid will vary case-to-case. 

What is child custody?
Child custody refers to the physical placement of a child and the parent-child relationship.  Child custody is usually broken into 2 separate categories; physical custody and legal custody.

What types of child custody are there?
In California, there are typically four scenarios for child custody:  sole physical custody, joint physical custody, sole legal custody, or joint legal custody.  When sole custody is awarded, one parent is considered the custodial parent, and is solely responsible for the safety and well-being of the child.

What are visitation rights?
Even though a parent may not be awarded joint or sole custody, he/she may still be entitled to visitation rights.  Visitation grants parents, grandparents, and other close relatives the right to spend time with the child. 

I am thinking about filing for child custody, what should I do?
If you are thinking about filing for child custody, you should speak with a qualified riverside family law attorney who has extensive child custody case experience.  A child custody lawyer can help you file your petition and prepare you throughout the legal process. 

What is adoption?
Adoption is the legal act of placing a child with a parent or set of parents other than the child’s birth mother or father.  Once a person adopts a child, he/she is legally responsible for the security, health, and long-term well-being of the child. 

What types of adoption are there?
Adoption is usually broken into two types; closed adoption and open adoption.  Closed adoption is when the adoptive parents do not meet or know the birth mother or father.  An open adoption is when the adoptive parents meet, know, or work with the birth mother or father.