In high-net-worth California divorce and custody cases, child support rarely ends with a simple monthly payment. When children are accustomed to private schools, full-time childcare, travel, and specialized activities, courts must determine how those expenses are handled in addition to guideline support. These additional obligations, known as child support add-ons, can significantly affect both parents’ financial exposure.
For affluent families in Los Angeles, disputes over add-ons are among the most contested issues in support proceedings. Understanding how California law treats these expenses is essential to protecting both parental rights and a child’s standard of living.
What Child Support Add-Ons Are Under California Law
California’s child support system is designed to ensure that children benefit from the financial resources of both parents. While the guideline formula establishes a baseline amount, it does not capture the full cost of raising a child in a high-income household.
That is where add-ons come in. Add-ons are additional child-related expenses that are allocated between parents in proportion to their respective incomes. Some add-ons are mandatory, meaning the court must order them. Others are discretionary, meaning the court evaluates their appropriateness in light of the family’s circumstances.
In high-net-worth families, add-ons can far exceed the base support amount.
Private Schooling and Educational Costs
Private school tuition is one of the most significant add-ons in affluent cases. California courts do not automatically require a private school. Still, they will order it when it reflects the child’s established standard of living or when both parents previously agreed to that educational path.
Judges look at:
- Whether the child was already enrolled in private school before separation.
- Whether private education is part of the family’s historical lifestyle.
- Each parent’s ability to contribute to the cost.
- The child’s educational needs and continuity.
In Los Angeles, high-income households often view private education as part of a child’s normal upbringing rather than a luxury. That makes tuition, enrollment fees, and sometimes tutoring legitimate add-ons.
Nannies, Au Pairs, and Childcare in High-Income Homes
Childcare expenses are typically mandatory add-ons when a parent works or seeks employment. In high-net-worth families, however, childcare often goes beyond daycare.
Full-time nannies, au pairs, drivers, and household staff may have been part of the child’s daily life long before divorce. Courts may include these expenses as add-ons when they reflect how the child was cared for during the marriage.
The key question is not whether the service is expensive, but whether it was customary for the child. High-income parents are often surprised to learn that premium childcare can be treated as a legitimate support obligation.
Travel and Lifestyle-Related Child Expenses
In affluent families, children often travel regularly, whether for school, vacations, or to maintain relationships with both parents. When one parent relocates or when the family historically traveled extensively, courts may allocate travel costs as child support add-ons.
This can include:
- Flights for visitation.
- Accompanied travel for young children.
- Lodging related to parenting time.
- Travel tied to extracurricular activities or competitions.
These costs can be substantial, and disputes often arise over how they should be divided.
How Add-Ons Are Allocated Between California Parents
Add-ons are typically divided in proportion to each parent’s income. In high-net-worth cases, this can result in one parent being responsible for the vast majority of these expenses.
As a result, it is critical to carefully analyze income, bonus structures, business earnings, and other sources of compensation. The allocation of add-ons is not just about fairness. It is about aligning financial responsibility with real financial capacity.
Why Strategy Matters in High-Asset Support Cases
Add-ons are where child support becomes truly customized. In Los Angeles, high-net-worth cases can involve hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.
At Fernandez Law Group, our attorneys understand how lifestyle, income, and historical spending patterns affect add-on determinations. We help clients present evidence that accurately reflects their child’s needs and protects them from unfair or inflated support obligations.
If your case involves private schooling, childcare, or significant travel expenses, strategic legal guidance is essential. Call Fernandez Law Group at (310) 564-9163 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how our Los Angeles family law attorneys can help you navigate complex child support issues with clarity and confidence.