Support and Other Issues Flashcards
A proceeding for enforcement of another state’s support order may be initiated under ______
UIFSA - Fam. Code 5700.101 et. seq.
An agreement between parties or order that combines child and spousal support without designating the amount for each.
Definition of family support
- Fam. Code 92
Except as otherwise provided, support orders may be modified or terminated _______.
At any time the court deems necessary.
-Fam. Code 3651
Income withholding orders from other states are enforceable in CA _________.
Without registration of the order.
-Fam. Code 5700.501 et. seq.
(1) The order has been registered
(2) The petition seeking modification is verified, and (3) Provides the essential information such as names, addresses, social security numbers, etc. of each party.
Requirements for court to modify out-of-state order
- Fam. Code 5700.311
Discoverable for all support proceedings.
Tax Returns - Fam. Code 3552
The parties are each required to file _______ for any proceeding involving support.
A current I&E
- CRC Rule 5.260
A current I&E is required to modify support to show _________
A material change in circumstances.
-Marriage of Tydlaska (2003) 114 Cal.App.4th 572
The court has the authority to strike an I&E that is ____.
Deficient, incomplete, or evasive under Evid. Code 412.
-Marriage of Hoffmeister (1984) 161 Cal.App.3d. 1163
Orders may designate “family support” an unallocated total sum for spousal and child support without specifically labeling any portion “child support” so long as
The amount is adjusted to reflect the effect of additional deductibility.
- Fam. Code 4066
In determining income for a party, the court must use a sample of income that is ______.
Fair and representative, based on reasonable predictability.
-Riddle v. Riddle (2005) 125 Cal.App.4th 1075
It was within the court’s discretion to consider past _________
business income as a guide for future earnings.
-Marriage of Berman (2017) 15 Cal.App.5th 914
_________ may justify looking at a longer period of time for calculation of the representative period for determining ability to pay.
Significant fluctuation of income
-Marriage of Pletcher (2021) 68 Cal.App.5th 906
_______ can serve as a basis for evidentiary sanctions, allowing the court to draw adverse inference from the documents presented (i.e. loan application does not match I&E).
A party who provides false or misleading information, or inconsistent statements
-Marriage of Chakko (2004) 115 Cal.App.4th 104
The court can rely on __________ to determine income.
Loan applications
-Marriage of Calcaterra & Badakhsh (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 28
It was improper for the court to consider a lump sum severance for support without ________
Amortizing it.
-Marriage of Tong & Samson (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 23
The court has the authority to order additional support, based upon ___________
A percentage of party’s future bonuses.
-Marriage of Ostler & Smith (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 33
Perquisites may be included as income available for support if _______
tax impacted.
-Marriage of Schulze (1997) 60 Cal.App.4th 519
Public policy to support the court’s application of determining someone’s _______in setting support.
earning capacity
-Marriage of Regnery (1989) 214 Cal.App.3d 1367
The court may take judicial notice of ______ in determining earning capacity.
Job ads
-Marriage of LaBass & Munsee (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 1331
Burden of proof for earning capacity is on the ______
party seeking to impute.
-Marriage of Bardzik (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 1291
Figures for earning capacity must have a _________
tangible evidentiary foundation.
-Marriage of Cohn (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 923
Incarcerated party may be imputed if it is shown they have __________.
The ability and opportunity to work in prison
-Marriage of Smith (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 74
It is speculative to assume a party will _________
pass a test required to obtain employment (i.e. the bar or medical license)
-Licudine v. Cedars-Sinai (2016) 3 Cal.App.5th 881
Imputation may be applied to a parent of a ______ age child.
preschool
-Marriage of Hinman (1997) 55 Cal.app.4th 988
Imputation is capped at a reasonable _______
work regimen (i.e. no requirement to impute with excess hours).
-Marriage of Simpson (1992) 4 Cal.4th 225
______ hours should not be considered in imputing income.
Excessive
-Marriage of Serna (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 482
Voluntarily changing careers, even in good faith, is _______
not a defense to imputation.
-Marriage of Padilla (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1212
It was error of the court in failing to determine if imputation to a parent was _______
in the best interest of the children.
-Marriage of Ficke (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 10
Proper to impute party where he had the opportunity to keep his job but chose to divest his support obligations by ________
participating in workplace misconduct (i.e. diverting clients away to reduce his income).
-Marriage of McHugh (2014) 231 Cal.App.4th 1238
No imputation to a party who was fired for surfing porn at work since ______
the act was not to voluntarily divest himself of the job.
-Marriage of Eggers (2005) 131 Cal.app.4th 695
Improper to impute earning capacity to unemployed person over _____
- -Marriage of McLain (2017) 7 Cal.App.5th 262
The court may order a party to submit to an examination by a vocational training counselor. Must assess a party’s ability to obtain employment based on:______
(1) age, health, and education
(2) marketable skills and employment history, and
(3) current availability of employment opportunities.
-Fam. Code 4331
Vocational evaluation may only be ordered if _____
Support is at issue.
-Marriage of Stupp and Schilders (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 907
Substantial evidence must support the opinions of ______
the vocational evaluator.
-Marriage of Pearson (2018) 21 Cal.App.5th 218
The court has continuing exclusive jurisdiction over child support _______
until all parties have left the state or consent in writing.
-Fam. Code 5700.205
The court may order “expedited” child support orders.
Fam. Code 3620 et. seq.
The court may order a deferred sale of the marital home ____
so long child support can be ordered in the case.
-Fam. Code 3800 et. seq.
The court must take all circumstances into consideration when deferring a sale including _________
Emotional attachment of the possessing party and children, and
Determining whether there would be an adverse impact to the party out of possession resulting from loss of present income.
-Marriage of Duke (1980) 101 Cal.App.3d 152
The court may order an amount of child support _____
necessary for the support of the child.
-Fam. Code 4001
The court may order a separate trial and _____ is given preference over all issues other than custody (which shall be tried at the same time).
Child support
-Fam. Code 4003
Even if stipulated to, the court’s jurisdiction over child support may not be ______
divested as this goes against public policy.
-Marriage of Lambe & Meehan (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 388
Cannot delegate jurisdiction of child support to ______, even if agreed to.
binding arbitration
-Marriage of Bereznak & Heminger (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 1062
The court may order a parent to reimburse a 3rd party who furnishes ______.
necessaries for a child when the parent neglects to do so.
-Fam. Code 3950
Exception to order a parent to reimburse a 3rd party who furnishes necessaries for a child
If child abandons the parent without just cause.
-Fam. Code 3951(b)
The court may order job training and work programs for child support.
Fam. Code 3558
Court may order the parent to file reports every two weeks listing at least ________
5 different places they have applied for work.
-Fam. Code 4505
The court has discretion to make _______ under the overarching policy that a requirement of a parent to support their children is consistent with the ability to pay.
seek work orders
-Haley v. Antunovich (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 923
At the request of either party, the court shall make findings with respect to the circumstances upon which the order is made.
Fam. Code 4005
If a parent with a duty to pay child support willfully fails to do so, the other parent, or the child by a guardian ad litem, may _________
bring an action against the parent to enforce the duty.
-Fam. Code 4000
______ may proceed on behalf of a child to enforce child support. They are subject to any limitation imposed by the law of this state. The court may also order parent to pay reasonable attorney’s fees to the county.
The county.
-Fam. Code 4002
Provisions regarding child support are ______ from other provisions of an agreement between the parties.
severable
-Fam. Code 3585
If ________, the court may estop the custodial parent from seeking payment of child support arrearages which accrued during the period of concealment.
the custodial parent conceals a child until age of majority (not just mere interference)
-Marriage of Damico (1994) 7 Cal.4th 673
Father and mother of a minor child have ______ to support their child in the manner suitable to the child’s circumstances.
an equal responsibility
-Fam. Code 3900
The duty to support continues until ______
18 and graduated OR 19 years, whichever occurs first.
-Fam. Code 3901
Duty to support includes when the child is attending ______
alternative programs and/or classes.
-Marriage of Hubner II (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 175
Father and mother have an equal responsibility to maintain, to the extent of their ability, a child of whatever age who ______
is incapacitated from earning a living and without sufficient means.
-Fam. Code 3910
Loss of benefits for the child if he/she becomes employed is _____
not a proper consideration for adult child support.
-Marriage of Cecilia and David W (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 1277
Parties have a duty to disclose receipt of _____
public assistance.
Fam. Code 4004
Parties may agree in writing to support orders. The mutual consent is ______
considered sufficient consideration.
-Fam. Code 3580
If support is set to terminate upon a contingency (i.e. age, etc.) and the payee fails to notify the payor of the happening of the contingency and continues to accept the payments, the court may _______
order the party to refund all monies accrued after the happening of the contingency.
-Fam. Code 4007
If the noncustodial parent begins receiving federal government benefits from Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Veterans benefits, they shall notify the custodial parent. Once notified, the ______ shall contact the agency determining eligibility for benefits for each child. Any benefits paid will be credited against the ________.
custodial parent ; noncustodial party’s CS obligation
-Fam. Code 4504 (a) and (b)
If the custodial parent refuses to apply for government benefits, the noncustodial parent shall ______
receive a credit for benefits against CS that the child would otherwise be eligible for.
-Fam. Code 4504(c)
______ are not income of the noncustodial parent for CS as the noncustodial parent is not actually receiving it.
The derivative benefits paid to the child
-Marriage of Daugherty (2014) 232 Cal.App.4th 463
A ____ finding is mandatory
guideline
-Fam. Code 4052
A parent’s first and principal obligation is ______
to support the parent’s minor child according to the parent’s circumstances and station in life.
-Fam. Code 4053(a)
Both parents are mutually responsible for the support of their children.
Fam. Code 4053(b)
The guideline takes into account ______
each parent’s actual income and level of responsibility for the children.
-Fam. Code 4053(c)
Each parent should pay for the support of the children according to _______
the parent’s ability.
-Fam. Code 4053(d)
The guideline seeks to place the interests of children as the state’s top priority.
Fam. Code 4053(e)
Children should share in the _____.
Standard of living of both parents.
Fam. Code 4053(f)
Child support orders where both parents have high levels of responsibility for the children should ____
reflect the increased costs of raising children in two homes and minimize significant disparities.
-Fam. Code 4053(g)
Guideline support is presumptively correct.
Fam. Code 4053(k)
Adult child support is determined under ________
the uniform guideline rules.
-Marriage of Drake (1997) 53 CAl.App.4th 1139
Adult child support should not be paid to the other parent where the adult child ________
does not live with the parent and the parent does not pay for the basic living expenses of the child. The payment should be made to the legal representative (in this case a treatment facility).
-Marriage of Drake (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 934
Annual gross income includes ______
commissions
salaries
royalties
wages
bonuses
rents
dividends
pensions
interest
trust income
annuities
workers’ compensation benefits
unemployment
disability
social security, and
spousal support received from a non-party.
-Fam. Code 4058(a)(1)
Recurring ________ are properly considered in setting child support.
parental gifts, loans, and contributions to living expenses
-Marriage of Alter (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 718
A sublet of space to a tenant ______
is income for purposes of CS.
-County of Orange v. Smith (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 1434
_____ of inheritance is not income for support BUT ____ in the inheritance is.
Corpus ; investment return
-County of Kern v. Castle (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1442
______ recurring bonuses must be included in prospective earnings.
Predictable
-County of Placer v. Andrade (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 1393
Potential future bonus dependent on _____ should be subject to Ostler/Smith.
performance and profitability
-Marriage of Mosley (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 1375
Speculative investment income from unrealized equity in the family residence ________
is not income for CS.
-Marriage of Williams (2007) 150 Cal.App.4th 1221
Fair rental value of mortgage free residence is not income for CS _______
but could be a basis for deviating from guideline.
-Marriage of Schlafly (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 747
Life insurance proceeds are not income for CS ______
but earnings on the corpus may be.
-Marriage of Scheppers (2001) 86 Cal.App.4th 646
___________ is not income for CS because lost wage component is not identified.
Undifferentiated lump sum PI recovery
-Marriage of Heiner (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 1514
Undifferentiated annuity PI recovery is not income for CS.
Marriage of Rothrock (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 223
Unrealized value of stock is not gross income for CS _______
however business sale proceeds not reinvested in other assets can be considered as income.
-Marriage of Pearlstein (2006) Cal.App.4th 1361
Where a party deliberately does not pay taxes, ______
the court can consider the income tax free.
-Marriage of McQuoid (1991) 9 Cal.App.4th 1353
Free housing is considered _____.
Income for guideline CS
Stewart v. Gomez (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 1748
Stock options may be considered income for guideline CS _______
but may be limited to “reasonable needs.”
-Marriage of Kerr (1999) 77 Cal.App.4th 87
Once there are no longer any restrictions on a party’s ability to exercise stock options and sell his shares, ________
the options must be counted as income for support. T/Ct failed to justify cap on parent’s child support as extraordinary high earner.
-Marriage of Macilwaine (2018) 26 Cal.App.5th 514
______ are income for guideline support. Voluntary ____ must be included in net disposable income for guideline CS.
Tax returns ; 401(k)
-Marriage of Morton (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 1025
Depreciation on real estate investment is included as _______ for guideline CS.
nontaxable income
-Asfaw v. Woldberhan (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 1407
Additional tax burden from a new spouse ______
should be considered for guideline CS.
-Marriage of Carlsen (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 212
One-half of community investment income from new marriage _______
shall be included as income.
-Marriage of Knowles (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 35
The income of a subsequent spouse or nonmarital partner shall not be considered except in extraordinary circumstances where ______
Excluding it would lead to extreme and severe hardship to the child including
voluntarily or intentionally quitting work or
reducing income or intentionally remaining unemployed or underemployed.
-Fam. Code 4057.5
Annual gross income includes income from the proprietorship of a business including gross receipts from the business reduced by _____.
Expenditures required for the operation of the business
Fam. Code 4058(a)(2)
Depreciation including 179 deductions are not “cash outlays” which Fam. Code 4058 intends. Tax returns are not presumptively correct.
Marriage of Hein (2020) 52 Cal.App.5th 519
The court may deviate from considering actual expenses if _________
it determines it is not reflective of the parent’s earning capacity.
-Sorge v. Sorge (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 626
The court can consider _______ in lieu of actual income, consistent with the best interest of the child.
the earning capacity of a parent
Fam. Code 4058(b)(1)
The court shall consider the parent’s circumstances including: _________
(1) parent’s assets
(2) residence
(3) employment and earning history
(4) job skills
(5) educational attainment
(6) literacy, age, and health
(7) criminal record
(8) record of seeking work, job market, and availability of employers willing to hire
(9) earning levels in the area, and
(10) other relevant factors.
Fam. Code 4058(b)(2)
The court has discretion to impute a reasonable _______ on non-income producing assets
a reasonable rate of return
Marriage of Destein (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 1385