What Counts as Income for Child Support in California?
The California Court of Appeal in Pateras v. Armenta (2025) held that $5,000 monthly payments received by a father from his tribe’s general welfare program constituted income for child support purposes. The court emphasized that income under California Family Code § 4058 includes all funds available for support, even if non-taxable. The father failed to prove the payments were “need-based public assistance” excluded under the law. This decision reinforces that courts focus on a parent’s financial ability to support their child, not federal tax classifications, and that tribal benefits may count as income if not strictly tied to financial need.