Legal Question in Family Law in California

I take home about $80000 per year with my now seperated spouse taking home around $50000 we have to children together and she would get full custody. There is no infidelity envolved on either side. I am wondering if we divorced if I would have to pay alimony? I know child support is a given but how much of my income would go to my possible ex? Oh yeah and she would keep the house.


Asked on 2/02/10, 7:28 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Who says she's going to get full custody? Who says she's going to keep the house? The amount you would pay in support, if any, depends on what proportion of time you have with the kids, so it would be in your interest to get a favorable custody order.

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Answered on 2/07/10, 10:41 pm

I have to agree with Mr. Stone. It makes no sense to assume she gets full custody. Why would that be in the best interests of the children? Are you a criminal? A child molester? Is there some reason your children should never have time with you? If not, then your children need some custodial time with you. That will affect the amount of child support you pay. As for "alimony" which is properly called "spousal support" in California, that depends on a LOT of factors, starting with the length of the marriage. Then on top of all the factors that go into it, many of your tax deductions and some other expenses go into the child and spousal support calculations. So there is no way to even begin to guess how much you would pay without full financial information on both of you. Child and spousal support are calculated by a formula so complicated that you must submit reports to the court that are generated by special software called DissoMaster, and you can only run an accurate DissoMaster report after full financial disclosure.

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Answered on 2/08/10, 12:09 am


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