On April 1, 2026, singer Sia began paying ex-husband Daniel Bernad $42,500 per month in child support for their 23-month-old son Somersault Wonder under a California court-approved settlement. The agreement also requires Sia to maintain a $5 million life insurance policy, share private school and healthcare costs, and follow a joint legal custody schedule — a framework that mirrors how California treats high-income child support disputes under Cal. Fam. Code § 4055.
Key Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | Sia and Daniel Bernad finalized a child support and custody settlement |
| When | Settlement approved; payments began April 1, 2026 |
| Where | California (Los Angeles County Superior Court) |
| Who's affected | Sia (Sia Furler), Daniel Bernad, and son Somersault Wonder (23 months old) |
| Key statutes | Cal. Fam. Code §§ 4055, 4057, 4058; § 3011 |
| Financial terms | $42,500/month child support; $5M life insurance policy; shared private school and healthcare |
| Original demand | Bernad initially sought $250,856/month in temporary spousal support |
The settlement was reported by E! News and TMZ. Sia publicly responded by describing herself as "a sober working mom trying to buy peace."
Why This Matters Legally
The Sia-Bernad settlement illustrates how California enforces child support as an absolute parental obligation regardless of which parent is the higher earner. Under Cal. Fam. Code § 3900, both parents owe an equal duty of support to their minor child according to their respective circumstances and station in life. California is a gender-neutral jurisdiction — high-earning mothers pay support to lower-earning fathers on the same statutory formula that would apply in reverse.
The $42,500 monthly figure is consistent with California's guideline formula, which scales with income. When combined parental income exceeds roughly $1 million annually, courts apply the guideline while permitting deviations under Cal. Fam. Code § 4057 if the presumptive amount would be "unjust or inappropriate." The $5 million life insurance requirement is also a common protective mechanism in high-net-worth California settlements, securing future support obligations if the paying parent dies before the child reaches majority.
How California Law Handles High-Income Child Support
California calculates child support using the statewide guideline formula codified at Cal. Fam. Code § 4055. The formula uses each parent's net monthly disposable income, the percentage of time each parent has physical custody, and the number of children. Courts are required to apply this formula as a rebuttable presumption under Cal. Fam. Code § 4057.
Income That Counts
Cal. Fam. Code § 4058 defines "annual gross income" broadly to include salary, royalties, bonuses, rental income, dividends, and self-employment earnings. For a recording artist like Sia, this captures streaming royalties, publishing income, touring revenue, and catalog licensing. Courts can also impute income under Cal. Fam. Code § 4058(b) when a parent has earning capacity they are not using.
When the Guideline Produces Very Large Numbers
At extremely high incomes, California courts can adjust the guideline amount downward under Cal. Fam. Code § 4057(b)(3) if the presumptive number exceeds the child's reasonable needs. That is the legal basis for settlements like the Sia agreement, where $42,500 per month was negotiated rather than a far larger guideline figure that the raw formula might generate. The relevant California appellate authority is In re Marriage of Cheriton (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 269, which governs "extraordinarily high income" deviations.
Custody and the Best Interest Standard
Joint legal custody — the framework in the Sia settlement — is favored under Cal. Fam. Code § 3040 when both parents are fit. The court's overarching standard is the child's best interest, codified at Cal. Fam. Code § 3011, which considers health, safety, welfare, and the nature of each parent's contact with the child.
Why the $250,856 Spousal Support Request Was a Different Issue
Bernad's reported initial request of $250,856/month was for temporary spousal support, not child support. Temporary spousal support in California is typically calculated under local county guidelines (for Los Angeles, the Santa Clara formula: 40% of the higher earner's net income minus 50% of the lower earner's net income, adjusted for child support). Permanent spousal support, by contrast, is determined under the 14 factors in Cal. Fam. Code § 4320, including marital standard of living, duration of marriage, and earning capacity.
Practical Takeaways for California Parents
- Understand that California support is gender-neutral. If you earn significantly more than your spouse — regardless of gender — expect a guideline child support obligation under Cal. Fam. Code § 4055.
- Document all income streams accurately. Royalties, bonuses, equity vesting, and business income all count under Cal. Fam. Code § 4058. Concealment can trigger sanctions and retroactive adjustments.
- Request a life insurance provision in high-asset cases. Courts routinely order insurance to secure child support through the age of majority, which in California is 18 (or up to 19 if the child is still in high school full time under Cal. Fam. Code § 3901).
- Distinguish temporary from permanent support. Temporary orders use county guidelines; final orders apply the 14-factor test at Cal. Fam. Code § 4320. The numbers can differ by a factor of two or three.
- Negotiate settlement before trial when possible. Court-approved stipulated judgments like the Sia-Bernad agreement resolve the matter faster, reduce legal fees (which can exceed $500,000 in contested high-net-worth cases), and give both parents certainty.
- Include specific holiday and school schedules. Vague custody orders generate repeat litigation. Settlements that detail holidays, vacations, and school decisions reduce post-judgment disputes.
FAQs
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Get Help With Your California Family Law Matter
High-income support cases turn on income characterization, custody percentage, and statutory deviations that non-specialists frequently miss. A California family law attorney can model your guideline number, identify potential Cal. Fam. Code § 4057 adjustments, and structure protective provisions like life insurance or wage assignments. Browse California divorce attorneys by county on divorce.law to find local representation.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.