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Navigating child support can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. As dedicated family law attorneys, we are here to help you understand Florida’s child support laws and ensure a fair agreement that benefits your family. We know protecting your child’s well-being and financial future is your top priority.
With over 30 years of focused experience in family law, our team will guide you through the legal process, whether you’re establishing, changing, or enforcing child support. We work tirelessly to make sure your children are provided for and your rights are protected.
While we always aim to resolve child support issues through negotiation and mediation, we are fully prepared to litigate in court when necessary to achieve the best possible outcome for you. We represent parents throughout South Florida, understanding that Florida courts take a parent’s responsibility to support their children seriously.
Understanding Child Support in Florida
Child support is a financial contribution from one parent to the other to help raise their shared child. Each parent has a fundamental obligation to support his or her minor or legally dependent child. Fla. Stat. § 61.29(a). In South Florida, courts can order child support for parents whether they are divorcing or were never married. For unmarried parents, paternity must be established before a child support order can be issued. Fla. Stat. § 742.
Child Support Payments Cover:
- Child’s fundamental needs
- Healthcare
- Education
- Basic living expenses (food, shelter, clothing)
- Extracurricular activities.
How Child Support Amounts Are Determined
The exact amount of child support in Florida varies by case, with courts prioritizing the child’s best interests according to state guidelines. The guidelines schedule is based on the parent’s combined net income estimated to have been allocated to the child as if the parents and children were living in an intact household. Fla. Stat. § 61.29. Key factors considered include:
- Each parent’s income and earning capacity
- Their financial resources
- The child’s specific needs
- The time-sharing schedule
- (If applicable) the child’s quality of life during the marriage
These guidelines are meant to encourage fair and efficient settlement of support issues between parents, minimizing the need for additional litigation. Fla. Stat. § 61.29(c). The child support guidelines can be found on Fla. Stat. § 61.30.
Addressing Child Support Concerns
Parents sometimes try to avoid child support obligations. When a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, we pursue various enforcement mechanisms to secure the support your children are entitled to receive. There’s no time limit on child support arrears, meaning we can diligently pursue these payments whenever necessary.
Beyond enforcement, child support orders can also be changed if there’s a big, unexpected shift in a parent’s life or the child’s needs. A “substantial change in circumstances” for purposes of the law could be due to a job loss, changes in childcare needs, a parent’s disability, significant changes in health insurance or daycare costs, a large raise or pay cut, or shifts in how much time each parent spends with the child, among other things.
It’s also important to know that the remarriage of a custodial parent by itself doesn’t change a parent’s obligation to make child support payments. This is because child support is seen as the child’s right, and the biological parents’ duties remain the same regardless of a new marriage.
In South Florida, free assistance for child support matters, including establishing paternity, obtaining orders, and enforcement, is available through resources like the Florida Department of Revenue. For more detailed information and personalized guidance, the attorneys at Jorge L. Gonzalez Law are available to assist you.If you have questions about child support in Florida, we invite you to meet with us. We’ll carefully review your unique situation and help you move forward with confidence.
