California’s new child support calculation went into effect September 1, 2024, through the enactment of Senate Bill 343 (SB 343). This is the first major revision to the California child support guidelines in years. This new child support calculation introduces significant changes intended to create a more equitable child support result for California families.
In California, all child support programs must undergo an annual, rigorous certification process to ensure that child support calculations align precisely with relevant statutes and court rules. Currently, six certified child support calculators are authorized for use in California court proceedings. Family Law Software meets these high standards, remaining fully accurate, compliant with new laws, and re-certified by the Judicial Council of California.
In a significant development, the leading tool for child support calculations in California, DissoMaster, has announced it will not renew their certification and will cease operations in the state.
This article will outline the latest updates in child support calculations and provide guidance on how former DissoMaster users can transition smoothly to Family Law Software.
Child Support Formula Changes
The formula itself was modified to result in slightly higher child support at most income levels. The primary changes relate to a portion of the child support formula called the K-factor. The new formula increased this K factor and the total net disposable income to which it applies, therefore increasing the resulting child support.
The effect on spousal support, though, may be the reverse. Professionals will notice that the adjustment to the child support K factor results in lower spousal support results.
Allocation of Add-ons
Another important change enacted by SB 343 is the treatment of add-on expenses in the child support calculation.
Additional child support “add-ons” include childcare, uncovered medical costs, extracurricular activities, special needs of the child, and travel expenses.
These add-ons can be shared one of two ways: either 50/50, or in proportion to the parties’ incomes. Previously, the presumption was 50/50. The new statute changes the presumption to have sharing of the cost be in proportion to the parties’ incomes.
The calculation also altered the treatment of the most common add-on, childcare. The new law establishes a rebuttable presumption that work-related childcare costs are reasonable.
Family Law Software defaults to current guidelines but also allows users to select their own allocation of add-ons with one click.
Low-income Adjustment
One of the most notable changes to the child support statute is the treatment of “low income” parents. The new law provides that a low-income obligor is presumed to be entitled to the low-income adjustment.
Pursuant to instructions from the Judicial Council, Family Law Software was already incorporating this presumption, so this law change just codified existing practice.
Additionally, the low-income adjustment threshold has changed to be the amount one would earn working a 40-hour week at the State’s minimum wage. At the time the rules were passed, the threshold would increase from around $2,100 to $2,800 per month.
This presumption may be rebutted if determined by the Court to be unjust and inappropriate in a particular case.
The effect of this is that fewer obligors will have a low-income adjustment. The low-income adjustment in Family Law Software will be calculated using the new threshold. A new deviation is also available. If a low-income adjustment applies, then, there may be a deviation to the extent that the child support amount exceeds 50% of the obligor’s net disposable income. The software automatically calculates the deviation amount in the Deviations section, if it applies, but this occurrence will be less common.
Income Sources
The law expands the listed sources of income calculated in a parent’s annual gross income to include severance pay, veterans’ benefits that are not based on need, and military allowances for housing and food. Family Law Software has added customizable lines where users can add military allowances (BAS), military housing (BAH), or any other source of income with a custom description and tax effect. Users should include severance pay with wage income.
The new statute is now the default, but for older cases, you can check a box to have the older law apply. This box is located at the top of the screen where you input child support data.
Transition from DissoMaster to Family Law Software
As of March 2025, DissoMaster will be outdated and uncertified for California courts. They’ve also announced that no new updates will be made to the program starting November 1, 2024. This means that DissoMaster’s tax tables will no longer reflect the new IRS inflation adjustments beginning January 1, 2025. In short, DissoMaster’s child support calculations will be incorrect as of January 1st.
Since 2000, Family Law Software has been committed to providing family law professionals with a comprehensive, cloud-based platform for all their calculation needs—including child support, maintenance, arrears, pensions, and property division. Acquired by the law-office management platform Centerbase in 2021, we’re well-equipped to continue supporting California’s family law community for many years to come.
Making the switch to Family Law Software is simple. Our data entry and forms are already aligned with DissoMaster, ensuring an easy transition. We also model all our data entry to match the California Declaration of Disclosure required in every family law case, and you can generate the Declarations right from within Family Law Software.
Family Law Software also offers electronic client data entry, property division, and a full suite of family law Judicial Council forms, all completely integrated.
With our intuitive, cloud-based platform, former DissoMaster users will find the move to Family Law Software to be seamless and hassle-free.
With our accuracy and ease of use, Family Law Software is ready to support you through this transition and beyond!
Visit our website to start a free trial.
Helpful Resources:
California Senate Bill 343: https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB343/id/2831774
California Recertification of Guideline Support Calculators (Family Law Software Recertified as of 06/10/2024): https://www.courts.ca.gov/48702.htm