Schedule Your Consultation Now (813) 519-5919
Schedule Your Consultation Now (813) 519-5919
Schedule Your Consultation Now (813) 519-5919
Schedule Your Consultation Now (813) 519-5919
Divorce can be an expensive and stressful procedure, especially when it comes to dealing with children. In addition to figuring out child custody and visitation arrangements, at least one parent is likely to have to pay child support. This article briefly answers some key questions about how the child support process works in Florida, including:
Child support is a straightforward payment required by the court from one parent to the other parent after a divorce. It is intended to help them cover the additional costs associated with raising and caring for the child.
Child support is determined after a divorce based on Florida’s child support guidelines. These legal rules make child support the easiest part to figure out during a divorce.
In general, payments are required of the parent with more income to the one with less, especially if they have more time with the kids. Within those guidelines, it becomes just a question of math.
Your numbers about various financial circumstances are fed to the algorithm, and it computes a child support number. It uses your gross income, that of your ex, and the allowable deductions for health insurance payments, daycare costs, and more. You also input the number of children and the number of overnights that each parent has with them, and then the child support algorithm gives you a number.
Sometimes, you can push the court to deviate a little from that number in its final decision – but only around 5% more or less. Once you get that number, however, it is either a really hard pill for you to swallow, or you can litigate and ask for a 50-50 custody split, as that will help remove or reduce the amount of child support required.
Every divorce case is different, but sometimes, a temporary relief is requested by one party for one reason or another. This can cause you to pay child support immediately, though not always in the same way or amount as the final decision determines later. For example, child support can be paid in kind, for example, as payments toward a mortgage or something else.
However, if it is not paid, there could be a calculation of retroactive child support imposed later. For example, if you separated on January 1st, and your partner moved out and paid nothing since then, you can calculate retroactive or owed child support using both parents' incomes and your share of overnight stays by the kids.
Unfortunately, only the child support guidelines figures go into the equation for calculating child support. Unless the bills have something to do with taking care of children, such as medical insurance payments, they cannot be included in the child support calculations.
If you are concerned about your current child support situation, a family law attorney can help you figure out if you have a viable case to petition for a change. For more information on Child Support Issues In Florida, an initial consultation is your next best step.
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