Factors Determining Florida Child Support Obligations

Child support is one of the most important (and potentially contentious) issues one deals with during divorce proceedings. Every good parent wants their child to have the support they need to thrive – but it can sometimes be a difficult balancing act to arrive at a child support obligation amount that feels fair and does not impose too much hardship on the parents. There are several factors that Florida courts use to determine an appropriate amount.

Income. The foundation of calculating child support comes from the combined income of both parents. This includes not only salary, but also occasional expenses like bonuses, income from renting out property, and even some government benefits like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Once the combined income of the parents is known, the court will determine whether other factors should raise or lower a parent’s support obligation.

Total Parenting Time. As one might imagine, the parent who spends more time with the child will generally be entitled to more support, simply because they will have to cover the child’s day-to-day needs. The more evenly split parenting time is, the lower a parent’s support obligation will be in most cases.

Medical & Child Care Costs. Especially for younger children or children with more serious medical needs, the cost of medical and child care expenses can affect a parent’s support obligation. In this day and age, it is common for a child to be covered under one parent’s health insurance, and if this is the non-custodial parent, it may offset their support obligation to a certain degree.

Number Of Children. This may sound self-explanatory, but the Florida guidelines are designed to calculate the support amount for one child only – if a couple has more than one child, the non-custodial parent’s support obligation will rise accordingly. Support generally ends when a child turns 18, though it can be extended for a disabled child or if a child has not yet graduated high school.

Contact A Hollywood, FL Child Support Attorney

Child support is calculated primarily in the best interests of the child or children involved, but it is not in the best interests of the child for their parents to not be able to meet their obligations. A Hollywood, FL child support attorney from The Law Offices of Steven A. Mason, P.A. can answer your questions about support obligations and can help guide you forward in your case. Call our office today to speak to an attorney.

Source:

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/61.30