California Child Support Resources

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California sets child support with a written guideline, and the official worksheet is how the math gets shown to the judge. Both parents' income normally goes into the calculation, along with things like health insurance for the children and child care costs.

The official guideline materials for California are linked below, together with the verified support documents and the financial paperwork the court usually asks both sides to file. Our own calculator can give you a working estimate before you fill in the official worksheet.

Official California child support resources

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California child support guideline resources (courts.ca.gov): Official California child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.courts.ca.gov/1195.htm

California financial affidavit and disclosure forms (courts.ca.gov): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most California family cases ask both sides to complete. https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=FL

California family law forms (official index) (California judicial branch): The official statewide collection of California family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=FL

California court self-help resources (California courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own California family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm

Verified official California support documents

These official documents are the worksheets and orders California uses to set and record child support.

Income Withholding for Support (FL-195), form FL-195 (Child Support), official document: https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl195.pdf

Child Support Information and Order Attachment (FL-342), form FL-342 (Child Support), official document: https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl342.pdf

Spousal, Partner, or Family Support Order Attachment (FL-343), form FL-343 (Child Support), official document: https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/fl343.pdf

Official link data for California was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in California?

Through the state's written guideline, applied on the official worksheet. The guideline uses income and a defined list of add-ons rather than a judge's rough guess, so filling the worksheet in honestly is the single most useful thing you can do. Open the official California guideline materials above for the exact method.

Can the court order a different amount than the guideline?

A judge can depart from the guideline in some situations, but the order normally has to explain why. Start from the guideline number and be ready to say plainly what makes your case different.

How much does it cost to file a family case in California?

Dissolution filing fee: ~$435-$450. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.