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.
For an initial estimate, try California’s free child support calculator. Scott can review the inputs and explain what the result means for your situation.
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.
What clients say
Parents who settled support with Scott
Reviews from clients who worked out child support, shared costs and modifications in mediation.
★★★★★
“I highly recommend Scott Levin for anyone navigating the complexities of child support and spousal support modifications. He is incredibly professional and made the entire mediation process seamless.”
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I highly recommend Scott Levin for anyone navigating the complexities of child support and spousal support modifications. He is incredibly professional and made the entire mediation process seamless. His expertise and easy going nature helped us reach a resolution efficiently. All was done without going or have to deal with the San Diego court. Thank you Scott!!!
★★★★★
“He was fair and respectful to both parties and most of all ensured that our kids would have the best outcome in this very sad breakup of our family.”
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I was told repeatedly it would be absolutely impossible to mediate in my highly contentious divorce with decades together, a # of children, lots of accounts and properties- it was overwhelming and typically is the kind of divorce that takes many many years and many 100s of 1000s of dollars. But then we found Scott. He was fair and respectful to both parties and most of all ensured that our kids would have the best outcome in this very sad breakup of our family. He kept it fair, affordable and quick. He is personable and he really cares. The mediators my friends have used in their own situations PALE in comparison to Scott Levin. My family has always been the most important thing in the world to me and our choice of mediator helped to keep us sane, calm and hopeful throughout this devastating situation in the middle of a pandemic. He allowed us to stagger visits so we did not need to be present together bc of the high conflict circumstances. Very grateful Scott Levin made the impossible possible, by guiding us through from start to finish!
★★★★★
“The cost of working with Scott was minimal compared to the cost of us hiring individual attorneys AND a lot less stressful. Scott is very understanding, knowledgeable and caring for both sides.”
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I highly recommend working with Scott as your mediator. It’s a very challenging time anyway and using Scott for the dissolution of my marriage helped make a difficult life experience a lot less stressful and challenging. The cost of working with Scott was minimal compared to the cost of us hiring individual attorneys AND a lot less stressful. Scott is very understanding, knowledgeable and caring for both sides. I’m thankful we found Scott. I’m especially thankful that my husband and I were amicable from the start of this process which made a very sad and difficult situation less so. Do yourself a favor and hire San Diego Divorce Mediation & Family Law and work with Scott.
★★★★★
“Choosing Scott to be our mediator was one of the best decisions we had made. Thanks to him we were able to finish the divorce without the need to hire lawyers.”
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When we decided to get divorce, we know it was going to be a difficult process, but we never imagined how hard it was going to be. Choosing Scott to be our mediator was one of the best decisions we had made. Thanks to him we were able to finish the divorce without the need to hire lawyers. Because of him we stay amicable throughout the process even though sometimes we thought that was not going to be possible. I would recommend him without a doubt.
Reviews describe individual clients’ experiences. Every family’s situation is different, and results vary.
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, overtime and RSUs
- 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. California updated its support formula on September 1, 2024. Orders made before then don’t change on their own, so if you update yours, Scott shows you how the current formula compares.
Learn how post-divorce mediation can help you work through an update.
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
Co-Parenting Specialist®: child-focused parenting plans
Who you’ll work with
An attorney, a financial analyst and a mediator in one
Scott has been a California attorney 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 Certified Mediator through Mediate.com 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 of recent income, a base amount plus a percentage of each bonus, commission or overtime check, or a true-up once a year. RSUs usually need their own rule for shares as they vest. 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 he can run each option on your real numbers. For more detail, see how RSUs are valued in divorce and support when income changes.
Who pays for childcare, camps and activities?
Childcare a parent actually pays in order to work, or to attend reasonably necessary education or training for work, is a statutory add-on, and that can include a camp that provides care during working hours. It has a presumed allocation in proportion to each parent’s adjusted net disposable income, and your order governs payment and reimbursement. Recreational camps and activities are different: your agreement can set consent, spending and reimbursement rules for them. Parents may agree to a different allocation, subject to court approval. The court may also order a different allocation.
Should extra costs be split 50/50 or by income?
For employment-related childcare and reasonable uninsured health care costs, the starting point is a presumed allocation in proportion to each parent’s adjusted net disposable income. Parents may agree to a different allocation, such as 50/50, subject to court approval. The court may also order a different allocation. Many parents choose 50/50 when their incomes are close because it’s simple. Scott can show you what each option 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.
How long does child support last?
Usually until a child turns 18. If your child is 18, unmarried, still a full-time high school student and not self-supporting, support continues until they finish 12th grade or turn 19, whichever comes first. Different rules can apply to an adult child who can’t support themselves because of a disability. Parents can also agree to help beyond that, for example with college, and the agreement can spell out how.
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.
Keep reading
“The cost of working with Scott was minimal compared to the cost of us hiring individual attorneys AND a lot less stressful.”
— Stephanie O., Google reviewBefore 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 October 2026.
Sources: California Courts Self-Help Guide: Child Support; Family Code §§ 3901, 4061 and 4062.