Child Support Checklist

Understanding the financial factors in calculating child support

What Information Is Required to Calculate Child Support?

The following is a checklist of financial factors that the California child support guideline calculation takes into consideration. If child support will be a factor in your divorce, you and your spouse will need to provide the financial information related to each item.

Child Support Checklist

1. 1. Monetary payments for child support
      • From whom to whom
      • Amounts and how often
      • Direct or through the court, court fees
      • If direct, any coverage of legal costs for enforcement
      • Any reduction of child support when children with other parent
      • Child care expenses
      • Other child-related expenses (clothing, activities, camp, etc.)
   2. Medical insurance coverage for children
      • Carried by whom
      • Payments made by whom
      • Change if parent carrying insurance not covered through employment
   3. Medical costs not covered by insurance
      • Paid for by whom
      • What will be paid for – hospital, medical, optical, dental, orthodontic, counseling, psychological, psychiatric
   4. Life insurance to cover obligations to children in case of death of a parent
      • How much to go for this obligation
      • For how long
      • Who will be the beneficiary
      • Should there be a life insurance trust
   5. Income tax exemptions for children and signing of a waiver
   6. Post-high school education of children
      • Any minimum guarantees to children
      • Any agreement on contributions by parents

• Copyright © Zena D. Zumeta, JD, 1998. Reprinted with permission