How Child Support Agreements Can Vary Based Upon Income

In California, child support is supposed to be paid by the parent with more income to make the living situation in both homes where the child is living, ostensibly in joint custody situations or if the child is living with just one parent, equalized.

There is a formula that is put into an equation called a “disomaster” and based on the factors input, a child support amount is decided. However, the disomaster is used, primarily in contested cases. Most parties can agree on a child support amount without having to go to the disomaster.

The problems come when:

One party tries to hide assets so that they cannot be calculated in a child support determination.

One party tries to claim that they are not working and are not employable — which makes Hollywood child support tricky, as many Hollywood parents work sporadically and not regularly.

The thing to remember about lawyers is that they make an hourly fee, usually $300 an hour to $800 an hour, in Hollywood, regardless of what the child support settlement or judgment is. The more contested the divorce, the more the attorneys make. This legal bill is money that does not go to support the children. It goes into the law firm’s pocket. So, when you see a child support fight, remember who’s really winning — the attorneys.