How to Handle Child Support and Custody in Riverside County | Riverside Divorce
I’m Tim Blankenship with Divorce661. If you’re filing for divorce in Riverside County and have children, two of the most important issues you’ll need to resolve are child custody and child support. This article breaks down how custody works in California, how child support is calculated in Riverside County, and practical steps you can take to reach an agreement that’s clear, fair, and court compliant.
Overview: Keep the focus on the kids
California’s family law system encourages parents to reach agreements whenever possible. When you and your spouse can agree on custody and support, you can often avoid court appearances and expensive litigation. My goal is to help you understand the basics so you can negotiate a workable arrangement—or know what information a professional needs to prepare your paperwork and calculations correctly.
Understanding custody in California
Joint legal custody vs. physical custody
Joint legal custody is preferred in California. It means both parents share decision-making responsibilities for major issues like education, healthcare, and religion. This doesn’t necessarily mean equal time; it means shared responsibility for important choices in the children’s lives.
Physical custody refers to where the children live. Physical custody can be shared (frequent time with both parents) or primarily with one parent, depending on what arrangement best serves the children’s needs. Courts look to the children’s best interests when evaluating physical custody plans.
Putting a parenting schedule into your agreement
If you and your spouse can agree on a parenting schedule, that schedule should be written into your marital settlement agreement or parenting plan. The more specific the schedule—holidays, vacations, weekday/weekend routines, and exchange logistics—the fewer conflicts later on.
“If you and your spouse agree on a parenting schedule, we’ll include it in your marital settlement agreement.”
How child support is calculated in Riverside County
Child support in California is calculated using a statewide guideline formula. The calculation takes into account both parents’ incomes, the amount of time each parent spends with the children (timeshare), and other relevant factors.
In Riverside County, the calculation is typically performed using a software program commonly called DissoMaster (also spelled Dissomaster). DissoMaster applies the state guideline formula to the financial inputs and produces a recommended monthly support amount.
What the guideline considers
- Both parents’ incomes (wages, self-employment earnings, and other taxable income)
- Time sharing or timeshare percentage
- Mandatory deductions (such as payroll taxes and mandatory retirement contributions)
- Child care and health insurance costs for the children
- Other relevant financial circumstances
You can include the DissoMaster-calculated amount directly in your agreement. If you and your spouse agree on a different figure, you can include that too—so long as the agreement is knowingly entered into and it’s in the children’s best interest. Courts will generally accept an agreed-upon amount if the agreement is properly prepared and filed.
A real example from Riverside County
Recently we helped a Riverside couple who agreed on joint legal custody and had nearly equal parenting time. We ran the guideline calculation using DissoMaster, drafted a clear marital settlement agreement including their parenting schedule and support provisions, and submitted it to the court. The result: approval without a single court appearance.
That’s the advantage of clear agreements and correct paperwork—less stress for families and a smoother transition for the kids.
How I (Divorce661) can help
At Divorce661, we focus on amicable, low-conflict divorces. Here’s what we handle so you don’t have to guess or risk getting it wrong:
- Running accurate DissoMaster child support calculations
- Drafting parenting plans and marital settlement agreements that reflect your parenting schedule
- Preparing and filing required forms so your agreement is court compliant
- Helping you avoid unnecessary court appearances when both parties are in agreement
We’ll take care of the forms, the calculations, and the filing so you can focus on what matters most—your family.
Practical tips and next steps
- Start by trying to reach agreement on custody and a parenting schedule—specificity reduces future conflict.
- Run a DissoMaster calculation early to understand baseline guideline support.
- If you want to agree to a different support amount, document the reasons and make sure the agreement is clear and signed.
- Include dispute-resolution language (mediation or neutral evaluation) to handle future disagreements.
- Consult a professional to ensure forms are correctly completed and filed with the court.
Want help?
If you’re going through a divorce in Riverside County and want help handling custody and support the right way, visit divorce661.com to schedule your free consultation. We provide full-service support for amicable couples getting divorced in California and will guide you step-by-step through custody, support calculations, and court-compliant paperwork.
Website: divorce661.com
