The guidelines have proven to be helpful in many cases since both the payor and the recipient have a fairly specific idea of the amount of the support order. The more problematic cases involve self employed individuals whose actual incomes are more difficult to determine than a paycheck from an employer. Even without a stream of income, if a payor has substantial separate property capital, and no income, that capital itself can be used to pay child support. All support orders are now mandated to be made by wage assignment. This means that the employer of the payor is required to withhold funds from each paycheck in order to pay the child support on a monthly basis directly to the recipient.
Child support is deemed to be the number one financial priority for all parents.
Child support orders are modifiable only if there is a written agreement or subsequent court order. Verbal agreements with the recipient, unilateral reduction of support payments or only partial payments do not change the obligation to pay the court ordered support. The easiest way is to have a written agreement, between the parents, stating the new support amount, the commencement date, and the termination date. The parties should sign and date this document with each retaining a signed original. Support is only modifiable back to the date the paperwork was actually filed with the court.