Child support mediation in San Diego
Child Support Mediation in San Diego: Settle the Number and the Everyday Expenses, Together
The guideline calculation gives you a monthly figure. It doesn’t tell you who pays for summer camp, what happens when one of you gets a bonus, or how you’ll handle the orthodontist. Scott Levin, Esq., CDFA®, is an attorney, a financial analyst and a neutral mediator. He helps both parents agree on support and the expenses around it, then drafts the whole agreement himself.
Is this the right fit?
Who child support mediation works for, and who it doesn’t
Mediation works when both parents are willing to sit down, share their information and decide together. Here’s a quick way to tell whether it fits you.
A good fit if…
- You and the other parent are both willing to take part
- You’ll both share honest income information
- You want clear terms for support and shared costs
- You’d rather agree than argue in front of a judge
Probably not a fit if…
- You want an advocate to push for a higher or lower amount
- You’re looking to collect support that’s already owed
- The other parent won’t participate or won’t share records
- You only want a number and no agreement
Scott is neutral in mediation. He doesn’t represent either parent against the other. If mediation isn’t what you need, a consultation is a good place to find out what is.
The monthly number
What the guideline calculation does, and what it leaves open
California sets child support with a statewide formula. It uses each parent’s income, the parenting schedule and a few other inputs, and Scott prepares the calculation with the software commonly used in California courts.
The number is only as reliable as what goes into it. A bonus, self-employment income, a 50/50 schedule or a change in insurance costs can move the result a lot. So Scott shows you both what was entered and how a disputed input changes the outcome. That way you’re negotiating from the same page, not from two printouts that don’t match.
Once the monthly figure is settled, most of the everyday friction is still ahead. That’s the part we spend real time on.
Three ways to share the costs
Pick the method that will actually work in your house
Parents often get the amounts right and the process wrong. The method you choose decides how many awkward conversations you’ll have every month.
| Joint children’s account | Each parent pays directly | One pays, the other reimburses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Each parent puts an agreed amount into a shared account every month. The agreement lists what the account can pay for. | Each parent pays their share straight to the provider, like the camp or the orthodontist. | One parent pays the bill and sends the receipt. The other repays their share by an agreed date. |
| Why parents like it | Because the money came from both of you, nobody has to reimburse anyone. It’s the fewest monthly conversations. | Simple for big, predictable bills, and no money changes hands between you. | Familiar, and it needs no shared account. |
| Watch out for | You need clear rules on what it covers and what happens if it runs short. It works best when you can communicate calmly. | You both need to know about the bill in time, and small costs get messy. | The most tracking and the most friction. Receipts, deadlines and late repayments can become the new argument. |
Many families combine methods, for example a joint account for everyday costs and direct payment for the big bills.
Not sure how your family should handle shared costs?
Talk it through with Scott. He’ll walk you through the options, show you what each looks like in numbers, and put the rules you choose into a clear agreement.
What a complete agreement covers
Clear rules mean fewer arguments later
A good agreement answers the questions parents usually end up fighting about, in plain language you can both follow. Scott helps you work through:
- What counts as a shared expense and what doesn’t
- How the cost is split, and whether it’s equal or based on income
- When a parent has to agree in advance and how you decide if you disagree
- How fast bills are shared, and how they’re documented
- Changing income, like bonuses, commissions and stock
- A regular check-in, so the terms keep up with your family
When your income or schedule changes
Parents with an existing order often reach out after a job change, a new schedule, a move or a big new expense. You can update the terms by agreement, and Scott prepares the paperwork.
Don’t rely on a handshake, though. A change generally needs to be in writing and approved by the court to be enforceable, and it usually can’t reach back before the request or agreement is filed. Scott helps parents do it properly, whether your divorce was mediated with him, handled by someone else, or litigated.
How it works
From a first conversation to a signed agreement
You don’t need to have everything figured out. Bring what you have, and the process shows what still needs to be decided.
Meet with Scott together
Come to a consultation, tell him where things stand, and learn how neutral mediation works, what it includes and how it’s billed.
Share your information
Both parents provide income records, tax returns, the parenting schedule, insurance and childcare costs, and any existing orders.
Scott runs the numbers and explains them
He prepares the guideline calculation and shows you how each input affects the result, so you both understand it before negotiating.
You decide together
You agree on the monthly amount, how shared costs are split and which method you’ll use to pay them.
Scott drafts the agreement
He prepares the written agreement and, within the scope you agreed to, the uncontested court papers, so you don’t need to hand it off to someone else.
Scott Levin, Esq., CDFA®
Neutral mediator: legal, financial, negotiation and drafting guidance
Mary Levin
Certified Co-Parenting Specialist™: child-focused parenting plans
Who you’ll work with
An attorney, a financial analyst and a mediator in one
Scott has practiced family law since 2004 and has helped families reach agreements in more than 2,500 mediations. He’s an attorney, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) and a neutral mediator who drafts your agreement himself. That means the law, the numbers and the drafting stay connected, and the terms are tested against real figures before you sign.
If you’re also working out the parenting schedule, Mary brings a different kind of expertise to that part, so the whole plan fits your family. She and Scott are also raising three boys of their own, and they know how much everyday costs and routines matter.
Cost
Know how it works before you start
Child support mediation, and updates to an existing order, are billed hourly. We explain how that works and what to expect at your consultation, before you commit. People often tell us the pricing was clear and honest.
Location
San Diego in person, or anywhere in California by Zoom
Learn more about online divorce mediation. If you’re also settling parenting time, see our child custody mediation page.
Common questions
California child support mediation FAQs
Does 50/50 parenting time mean no child support?
No. Equal parenting time doesn’t automatically make support zero. The formula still looks at each parent’s income and other inputs, so the higher earner may still pay something. Scott runs the numbers with your real schedule so you can see it.
Can we agree to an amount that’s different from the guideline?
Sometimes. The guideline calculation has to be shared, and an agreement for a different amount needs the right statements in it and the court’s approval. Parents can’t simply waive a child’s right to support, so Scott helps you build an agreement the court can approve.
How do we handle bonuses, commissions, overtime or RSUs?
There are several workable ways. You might use an average, a base amount plus a percentage of extra income, or a true-up once a year. What matters is that the agreement says what counts as income, how it’s shown and when it’s paid, so nobody has to guess. Scott is a CDFA®, so this is a comfortable area for him.
Who pays for childcare, camps and activities?
Childcare you need in order to work is generally shared equally, without the other parent having to approve it first, unless you agree to do it differently. Activities and camps are usually shared only when both parents agreed to them in advance. In mediation these are all negotiable, so you can set rules that fit your family.
Should extra costs be split 50/50 or by income?
Either can work. California allows an equal split or a split in proportion to each parent’s income after support is factored in. Many parents pick 50/50 because it’s simple, while a proportional split can feel fairer when incomes are far apart. Scott can show you what each looks like in real numbers.
Can unmarried parents use child support mediation?
Yes. Parents who were never married can mediate support, parenting time and shared expenses. The court paperwork is different from a divorce, and Scott prepares what your situation calls for.
My divorce wasn’t with Scott. Can he still help update our order?
Yes. Many parents come to Scott after mediating or litigating elsewhere, and past clients return too. You’ll need your current orders and recent income records. Updates to an existing order are billed hourly.
Can we change an existing order without going back to court?
You can agree on the change together, but it needs to be in writing and approved by the court to be enforceable. A handshake isn’t enough. A change also generally can’t reach back before the request or agreement is filed, so it’s better not to wait.
Do we both have to agree to mediate?
Yes. Mediation is voluntary, and it works best when both of you will share your income information and want to reach an agreement. Scott can’t make a parent take part, and he can’t take one parent’s side.
Can mediation make the other parent pay unpaid support?
No. Mediation is for agreeing on terms, not for collecting money that’s already owed. If that’s your situation, a consultation can help you sort out what kind of help you need.
What should we bring to the consultation?
Recent pay stubs or income records for both of you, last year’s tax returns, your current parenting schedule, and any existing court orders. Also bring a list of the costs you already share, like childcare, insurance and activities. It doesn’t need to be organized.
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Kind words
What our clients say
Scott was very easy to work with. He was very detailed in making sure both parties had all the information we needed. During the mediation process, it is obviously a difficult conversation to have, but Scott did his absolute best (and was good at)…
Scott was very easy to work with. He was very detailed in making sure both parties had all the information we needed. During the mediation process, it is obviously a difficult conversation to have, but Scott did his absolute best (and was good at) keeping the conversation neutral. Although it was not my decision in filing for and pursuing the divorce, I am really glad that I had someone like Scott to walk me through my part in the mediation and divorce process.
Scott is an incredible mediator who is not only skilled at providing you with information about your legal rights, but is equally a patient and caring human. Scott will help guide you from the initial steps to the very end. Having him as our…
Scott is an incredible mediator who is not only skilled at providing you with information about your legal rights, but is equally a patient and caring human. Scott will help guide you from the initial steps to the very end. Having him as our mediator really helped us sift through every part of the divorce agreement in a way that was easy to understand and digest. If you’re in this unfortunate position, Scott’s knowledge and guidance will help make it a little easier.
Before you settle on a number, make sure you both understand it
Meet with Scott to talk through support, the shared costs and how one clear agreement can cover them all, without a courtroom fight.
General information about California child support and mediation, not legal, tax or financial advice for your situation. Scott Levin serves as a neutral mediator and does not represent either parent individually. Last reviewed September 2026.