I'm self-employed. How does the court figure out my income?
CAdeepwater1 month ago
I run a small business. Income on paper is much lower than what I actually live on (legit business deductions). How will support work?
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✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
Family-court 'income' for support is broader than tax 'income.' The court will look at gross receipts minus legitimate business expenses, but some deductions that fly with the IRS (depreciation, vehicle, home office) get added BACK to income for support purposes because they don't represent cash you're not actually spending. Expect three years of tax returns + business records + credit-card statements showing personal vs business spending. If you're contested, a forensic accountant (~$3-7k) becomes worth it. Best move: get your books clean and your business-vs-personal separation crisp before you file.
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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.