Watch how adding an extra $25 to $50 to your usual monthly payment can decrease your balance faster!

The Arrears Estimator is a valuable tool that will allow you to compare how the length of time and total interest paid are affected by differing monthly payment amounts. Just watch how adding an extra $25 to $50 to your usual monthly payment can significantly decrease the total amount you pay in interest, as well as decreasing the amount of time you are making payments on the past due child support owed. You also have the option of entering the number of months in which you would like to have your balances paid off. By entering the number of months, the estimator will determine what the monthly payment needs to be to make this happen.

This calculation represents an estimate for paying off past due child support in California. It should not be used for any other purpose.  This is only an ESTIMATE!

Select this link to start the California Child Support Arrears Calculator

Arrears Data

To use this simple application you will need to obtain your balance information. You can obtain this information by doing one of the following: 

• Access your account information through the State of California IVR System by dialing (866) 901-3212 
• Log onto the "CA Child Support Web site" to access payment information.

Outstanding Principal: This is the total amount of support that needs to be paid off.

Outstanding Interest: California Code of Civil Procedure § 685.010 states that interest accrues at the rate of 10% per year on the principal amount of a money judgment that is unsatisfied. Interest is charged on all DCSS cases at the rate of 10% per year, with the following exemptions: 

• A court order states a different interest rate to be charged 
• A court order from another state will have interest assessed at that state's legal rate 
• The NP is on active duty and therefore qualifies for 6% interest based on the Soldiers and Sailors Act.

To calculate by Number of Months, you will need your Outstanding Principle and Outstanding Interest. You will need to enter the number of months you want to pay off your balances. Once you hit the calculate button, you will be presented with the estimates based on the data you entered. The number of months can be changed without needing to re-enter your balances.

To calculate by Monthly Payment, you will also need to enter the following:

Payment Made Today: This is the amount you paid toward your past due obligation today. If you haven't made a payment today you still can by making a credit card payment online at: https://childsupport.ca.gov/state-disbursement-unit If you are not able to make a payment today, enter "0".

Monthly Payment Amount: This is the amount you are paying toward the outstanding principal and interest, which is in addition to any current monthly child support amount you are paying.

Today's Date: This date corresponds with the Outstanding Principal and Outstanding Interest balance information you entered above.