Child Support Attorney in San Diego County

Guiding Parents Through Child Support Challenges

If you are facing a child support issue in San Diego County, you may be worried about how to provide for your children and keep up with your own expenses. Whether you expect to receive support or to pay it, the outcome affects your monthly budget and your children’s stability. It can feel overwhelming to navigate California’s rules at the same time you are dealing with separation, divorce, or changes at work.

At Moore, Schulman & Moore, APC, we focus on divorce and family law, including child support, custody, and related disputes. Our attorneys work with parents throughout the county who need clear guidance on what child support should look like under California law and how to present their situation in court. We understand that you want a solution that is fair, workable, and focused on your children’s needs.

Our firm brings together more than 200 years of collective family law experience. The founding partners are recognized as Board Certified Family Law Specialists by the California Board of Legal Specialization, and members of our team have earned honors such as AV Preeminent ratings and selection to the Southern California Super Lawyers list. This depth of experience allows us to approach child support cases with both legal insight and practical judgment.

Contact our trusted child support lawyer in San Diego County at (858) 492-7968 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Why Parents Turn To Our Firm

When you are trusting someone with your child support case, you want to know that they concentrate on family law and have handled situations like yours many times before. Our practice is devoted to divorce and family law matters, so child support is not an occasional file for us; it is part of the work we handle regularly. We advise parents on initial child support orders, modifications after life changes, and enforcement when an existing order is not being followed.

Our founding partners are recognized as Board Certified Family Law Specialists by the California Board of Legal Specialization. This credential reflects advanced training and a sustained focus on family law issues in California. For a parent, this means you are working with attorneys who are familiar with the statewide guideline formula, local procedures, and the way San Diego County Superior Court typically applies those rules. Two of our attorneys also hold AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale Hubbell, and members of our team have been included on the Southern California Super Lawyers list, which is a peer-based recognition of professional skill and ethical standards.

We know qualifications alone are not enough. Parents choose our firm because of how we work with them day to day. We take time to understand your goals, whether that is maintaining stability for your children, adjusting support after a job loss, or addressing concerns about hidden income. Our goal is to provide tailored legal counsel, to keep you informed, and to pursue approaches that balance timely resolution with cost awareness. When you work with our attorneys, you have a team focused on the details of your case and on the bigger picture of your family’s future.

How Child Support Works In California

California uses a statewide guideline formula to calculate child support. Courts in San Diego County generally must follow this formula unless there is a specific legal reason to depart from it. The calculation takes into account each parent’s income, certain tax-related factors, and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. At first glance, the guideline can seem mechanical, but the way the numbers are presented makes a real difference.

Income in child support cases is broader than many people expect. Wages, salaries, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and some benefits can all be relevant. In some families, stock options, deferred compensation, or business income may need to be addressed. Part of our role is to help identify what counts as income, gather the right documents, and address questions about fluctuating or seasonal earnings. This is especially important when one parent is self-employed or when there are concerns that income is being minimized.

Parenting time also plays a significant part in California’s guideline formula. The number of overnights and the actual schedule of time with each parent can change the support amount. Because of this, child support is often closely connected with custody and visitation arrangements. We help clients understand how proposed parenting plans interact with support and work with them to evaluate what is realistic for their children and daily lives.

Other factors can affect the final order, such as childcare expenses, children's health insurance premiums, and certain educational or medical costs. The court can issue temporary support orders early in a case, then a final order later, once more information is available. As family law attorneys, we work to help ensure that the financial picture presented to the court is accurate and complete, so the guideline calculation reflects your actual circumstances as closely as possible.