Legal Question in Family Law in California

"How does child/spousal support work" is an awfully broad question, too broad really to answer. To give you a little help though, either parent can file papers asking the court to set temporary custody and support orders at the beginning of a divorce. The final judgement will also contain custody and support orders. Custody is determined based on the parties agreement, or in the absence of agreement, on the "best interestes of the minor child." Support is calculated by an algebraic formula based on both parties income, the respective amounts of custodial time for the child support, and some other factors for the spousal support, and certain deductions that are similar to but not the same as income tax deductions. You will probably be allowed an income of $0.00 initially but you will be ordered to look for a job. The courts are pretty reasonable in their expectations of a stay at home mom's job prospects.