CALIFORNIA SUPPORT GUIDELINE
California child support calculator & worksheet
California child support uses state-specific income definitions and guideline rules. A base child support worksheet is available with the scope and exclusions listed below. Use this guide to check income requirements, sources, and limits before completing your worksheet.
Current module status
| State | California |
|---|---|
| Status | Active base worksheet module |
| Guideline model | california family code 4055 monthly net |
| Primary income field | Net monthly disposable income |
What the worksheet asks for
The calculator workflow starts with the selected state, then walks through both parties’ income, assets, debts, and state-specific particulars. Countable income streams feed each party’s formula income; balances and non-automated adjustments are disclosed separately. Common categories include wages, bonuses, dividends and interest, business or company income, self-employment adjustments, existing support obligations, debts assigned by order, health insurance, child care, tuition, extraordinary expenses, and parenting time.
Sources and limits
- Uses California Family Code § 4055 statewide uniform guideline formula operative September 1, 2024.
- Inputs must be net monthly disposable income as determined under California Family Code § 4059; this module does not derive taxes, mandatory deductions or add-backs from gross wages.
- The high earner parenting-time percentage is the approximate percentage of time the high earner has primary physical responsibility for the children.
- If the obligor qualifies for the statutory low-income adjustment, this module reports the permitted range and leaves the final adjustment to the court/computer worksheet.
- Health insurance, uninsured health care, child care, add-ons, hardship deductions, default-proceeding assumptions, differing time-share arrangements and deviations require the full California worksheet.
Official California source used for review
Run the calculator
Open the free support calculator, select California, complete the state worksheet, and print or export the output for review.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official California court calculator?
No. It is an independent educational estimate. Courts can order a different amount when the evidence, local rules, or statutory deviation factors justify it.
Can I use the output in court?
The worksheet output is designed to be clear and printable, but each litigant is responsible for checking local filing rules and attaching any required official court forms.