Understanding & Interpreting Florida Child Support Guidelines

Child support is often the most highly contested part of divorce proceedings, and Florida’s legislature has worked to have a straightforward process for calculating the appropriate support amount in any given situation. However, there are so many different variations in family situations that can make finding the right amount difficult. The right attorney can help.

Many Factors Are Considered

Florida’s guidelines may seem intimidating, but this is primarily because they are meant to assess many different factors in order to arrive at a fair amount. Historically, child support was paid by the father, because men were more likely to work outside the home – but over time, the workforce has become more equalized, and thus a more balanced approach had to be developed in order to keep child support equitable.

It is important to keep in mind that in Florida, parents owe a duty of support to their children, which means that they are not able to waive the right to support, nor can they avoid paying it without sufficient reason. If a non-custodial parent has a low income, they will still likely be required to contribute something to the custodial parent and their children’s upkeep.

Modifications Can Be Made Rarely 

If one looks at the relevant statute, they can see that there is a long list of factors that a judge must consider before arriving on an appropriate amount of support. The most common are monetary – each parent’s gross salary, tax deductions, health insurance costs, and any side income, for example – but a judge must also consider factors that play into custody, because a parenting time arrangement will materially affect who pays what.

Be advised that once a child support agreement is final, it can only be modified at certain intervals while active. In general, Florida law requires that a parent show a substantial change in circumstances for either themselves, the minor child, or the other parent, before changes can be made. A change is substantial if it materially affects the person’s ability to pay – for example, if the noncustodial parent loses their job, they may not be able to pay child support at their previous required amount.

Contact A Hollywood, FL Child Support Attorney

In many divorces, child support is the price one must pay for continuing to be involved in their children’s lives. That said, the right of a child to support must be balanced equitably with the needs of the parents. If you have concerns about your potential child support obligations, a Hollywood, FL child support attorney from the Law Offices of Steven A. Mason, P.A. can help to allay them if possible, and to help you ensure your rights are protected in court. Contact our office today to speak to an attorney.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.30.html