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Title
Rules and Forms | Family Law: Certification and Use of Computer Software Used to Assist in Determining Support
(Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council amend rule 5.275 of the California Rules of Court, which provides standards for computer software that assist in determining child and spousal support. This action is necessary to prevent the courts from losing the ability to timely and accurately calculate guideline child support in actions involving the local child support agency when the California Child Support Guideline Calculator, which is developed by the Department of Child Support Services, has had its certification revoked or the calculator is determined by Judicial Council staff to be inaccessible. The recommended changes would also give the Judicial Council the ability to revoke the certification of a calculator before the annual March 31 expiration date if a calculator's certification cannot be timely renewed during an out-of-cycle review requested by council staff.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council amend rule 5.275 of the California Rules of Court, effective December 13, 2025, and to become ineffective on January 1, 2026, to:
1. Authorize the Judicial Council to revoke the certification of a calculator if the developer fails to submit the calculator, as requested by the council, for review and testing to ensure its accuracy; and
2. Allow the parties, attorneys, and court to use an alternate support calculator in all actions involving the local child support agency when the certification of the Department of Child Support Services' California Child Support Guideline Calculator (DCSS Calculator) has been revoked or Judicial Council staff determines that the DCSS Calculator is inaccessible for use.
The proposed amended rule, to be in effect from December 13, 2025, to J...
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