How to Calculate Child Support in California

Hi, I’m Tim Blankenship with Divorce661. If you’re separating or getting divorced and have children, one of the first—and biggest—questions is: how much will child support be? Understanding California’s guideline calculation will help you avoid surprises and make better decisions during the process.

Overview: The Guideline Formula

California uses a standard “guideline” formula to calculate child support. The formula looks primarily at two things:

• Each parent’s income (wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment earnings, and other income sources)
• How much time each parent spends with the child (parenting time or custody percentages)

The more time you have with your child, the lower your support obligation generally is.

That guideline calculation is the same one the courts use. It helps create a predictable starting point for support orders and settlement negotiations.

What Counts as Income?

When the court (or court-approved software) runs the guideline calculation, it considers a variety of income sources. Typical examples include:

• Wages and salaries
• Bonuses and commissions
• Self-employment income and business profits
• Overtime, rental income, and some investment income (depending on the facts)

It’s important to gather accurate pay stubs, tax returns, and documentation of any non-wage income so the calculation reflects your true financial picture.

How Parenting Time Affects Support

Parenting time has a direct impact on the guideline amount. When a parent has the child a larger share of the time—weekends, overnight stays, extended periods—the amount that parent pays in support usually decreases. Conversely, a parent with less parenting time typically pays more.

Why? The formula accounts for the share of income each parent contributes and the costs each incurs while the child is in their care. More time with the child often means more direct expenses borne by that parent, which the guideline recognizes.

A Real Client Example

Here’s a practical example from my practice: a client assumed he’d be paying over $1,000 per month based on generic online calculators. After we ran the numbers using the court’s approved software—factoring in that he had the child nearly 50% of the time and was paying for health insurance—his guideline obligation came out to just under $500 per month.

That difference—several hundred dollars monthly—made settlement much easier for both parents. Accurate calculations can change expectations and help families reach faster, fairer agreements.

Why Use Court-Approved Software?

Online calculators you find publicly can give rough estimates, but they often miss nuances: deductions, allowable expenses, health insurance payments, and parenting time specifics. We use the same court-approved software the judges use to produce a precise guideline calculation. This helps avoid surprises at settlement or in court.

Agreeing to a Different Amount

The guideline calculation is the presumptive starting point, but parents can agree to a different amount if both sides consent. When considering an agreement that departs from the guideline, ask:

• Is the agreed amount fair to both parents and in the child’s best interest?
• Are health insurance, daycare, education, and extracurricular costs addressed?
• Do we document the agreement clearly to avoid future disputes?

Having an accurate guideline calculation in hand makes it easier to negotiate a reasonable, enforceable alternative.

How I Can Help

At Divorce661 we provide:

• Accurate, court-approved child support calculations
• Guidance on what income and expenses to include
• Help accounting for parenting time, health insurance, and other child-related costs
• Flat-fee divorce and support services to keep the process predictable and stress-free

Getting the numbers right up front can save time, money, and emotional stress. If you want to make sure your child support calculation is accurate and fair, schedule a free consultation with us so we can run the official calculation and walk you through your options.

Conclusion

California’s child support guideline focuses on income and parenting time. Accurate documentation and using the proper tools make a big difference—sometimes hundreds of dollars per month. Whether you’re negotiating a settlement or preparing for court, start with the correct numbers so you and your co-parent can make informed choices that serve your children’s needs.

If you’d like help calculating child support correctly and avoiding unnecessary stress or confusion, visit Divorce661 for a free consultation. We’ll help you get it right the first time and keep the process smooth.