California child support consists of two components: the base guideline support calculated under the DissoMaster formula, and add-on child support california expenses that are allocated between the parties on top of the base support. Child support add-ons california courts order address specific categories of costs that are not fully captured in the base guideline calculation. Understanding what add-ons are mandatory, what is discretionary, and how they are divided helps both paying and receiving parents budget accurately for child-related expenses.
Mandatory Child Support Add-Ons
Under Family Code section 4062, certain add-on costs are mandatory — courts must add them to the base support if they exist. The mandatory add on child support california categories are: childcare costs california related directly to the custodial parent's employment, education, or training; and reasonable uninsured health care costs for the children. These mandatory add-ons are divided between the parents in proportion to their respective net disposable incomes — the higher earner pays a larger percentage of these costs.
Healthcare Costs and Child Support in California
Healthcare costs child support california treatment covers health insurance premiums and uninsured medical expenses. Child support health insurance california: health insurance child support california: if one parent provides health insurance for the children, the cost of that coverage is factored into the DissoMaster calculation — the parent who pays the premium receives a credit that affects the base support amount. Medical expenses child support california uninsured portion — deductibles, co-pays, orthodontia, therapy, prescription costs not covered by insurance — are typically split between the parents in proportion to income as a mandatory add-on.
Childcare Costs and Child Support in California
Childcare costs child support california are allocated as a mandatory add-on when childcare is necessary for the custodial parent to work, attend school, or train for employment. The costs must be reasonable and necessary — not for vacation or recreation, but for work-related childcare. The custodial parent pays their proportional share; the non-custodial parent pays the balance as an add-on to base support.
Discretionary and Extraordinary Expenses
Extraordinary expenses child support california beyond the mandatory categories are discretionary — courts may add them to support but are not required to. These include: private school tuition agreed to by both parents; children's extracurricular activities costs; travel costs for long-distance custody arrangements; and other special needs of particular children. When parents dispute whether extraordinary expenses should be shared and how, courts evaluate whether the expense is in the child's best interests and whether both parents can afford to contribute to it proportionally.
Furubotten Law, APC handles child support establishment and modification proceedings throughout Orange County and Riverside County, including disputes over add-on expenses. Call (714) 795-3862 for a complimentary case evaluation.