It was recently reported that former San Diego Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie was $25,000 behind on child support obligations. One of the mothers of Cromartie’s children filed a document with the court that prevented him from selling any property without first being current on his child support. Cromartie has since caught up on his obligations after being traded to the New York Jets and receiving a $500,000 advance on his contract.
It is now more expensive than ever to raise a child. The cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 18 is estimated to range from $180,000-$250,000. As a child gets older, the expenses rise. Older children are often involved in extra-curricular activities like music, dance, or sports. If parents wish to pay for a child’s college education, this can easily add another $50,000 in expenses.
With these numbers in mind, it is important that separated or divorced parents make arrangements for child support to ensure that the child’s needs are financially met. Under California law, parents are mutually responsible for supporting their children.
In deciding the amount of child support to be paid, the court takes several factors into account, including the income of each parent, each parent’s level of responsibility for child custody, and each parent’s standard of living. A judge may set the amount of support or parents may come to their own agreement, subject to a judge’s approval.
Whether you need to obtain a child support order, have an existing order modified, or enforce an order, it is best to speak with an experienced San Diego family law attorney at Minella Law Group. Your attorney will work to make sure that the court considers all factors that are in your favor when making its decision. Please call (619) 289-7948 to schedule a consultation.
