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Originally published: February 2021 | Updated: February 2026 | Reviewed by Scott A. Levine
Florida child support is a court-ordered payment that helps cover a child’s basic needs after divorce, separation, or a paternity case.
Florida courts usually calculate support under the guideline statute using both parents’ net income, child-related costs, and the time-sharing schedule.
Parents rarely argue about whether a child deserves support. Parents usually argue about fairness, affordability, and whether the support number matches the real parenting schedule.
This guide explains how Florida child support works, how the amount changes, and what to do when payments stop or circumstances shift.
Florida child support is a legal financial obligation owed for a child’s benefit when parents live in separate households.
Florida courts typically treat child support enforcement and time-sharing enforcement as separate issues, so stopping payments can create arrears risk even when parenting time disputes exist.
Parents who need a deeper foundation on parenting plans can start with Florida custody factors before calculating support, because parenting schedules shape the guideline math in most cases.
Florida courts use the guideline framework in the child support statute to produce a presumptively correct support amount in most cases.
The guideline method uses each parent’s net income, adds specific child-related expenses, and then allocates responsibility based on each parent’s percentage share and the time-sharing schedule.
The official worksheet Florida courts publish, Form 12.902(e), shows the structure judges expect and reduces disputes about inputs.
Florida courts can deviate from the guideline amount in limited situations, and deviation arguments usually turn on clear evidence rather than opinion.
Parents who face complex finances often benefit from an overall case strategy that aligns support with the full divorce posture, including the dissolution guide and financial disclosure planning.
A support calculation becomes more defensible when parents assemble income proof and schedule records early, so a quick review with a Fort Lauderdale child support attorney can identify missing documents before conflict escalates.
Florida child support calculations can include income beyond wages.
Florida courts may consider wages, tips, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, disability benefits, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, interest, annuities, veterans’ benefits, pensions, and retirement benefits when evidence supports the figures.
Income disputes often signal a documentation gap. A strong approach uses tax returns, bank statements, payroll records, and a consistent financial affidavit so the support number tracks provable income instead of estimates.
Time sharing affects the guideline math because the Florida guidelines incorporate assumptions about the parenting schedule.
Time sharing does not automatically eliminate support when income differences and child-related costs still produce a guideline payment amount.
A parenting plan that matches the real schedule reduces modification risk and reduces enforcement conflict, especially when the case involves relocations or schedule changes discussed in parental responsibility disputes.
Florida child support commonly ends when a child turns 18. Florida law can extend support when a child remains dependent, stays enrolled in high school after turning 18, and is reasonably expected to graduate before age 19 under the Florida guideline rule that governs duration.
Special circumstances may apply when a child has ongoing needs, and the court order must clearly define the obligation to avoid enforcement ambiguity later.
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
Florida courts enter child support orders in writing that set the monthly amount, start date, and payment method.
Florida judges usually rely on income documentation, required financial disclosures, and a parenting schedule that supports guideline worksheet inputs.
| Topic | Florida Divorce Case | Florida Paternity Case |
| Starting point | The marriage dissolution petition opens the case | Legal parentage must be established first |
| Core issues decided | Child support, parenting plan, time sharing, property, and debt | Parentage, child support, parenting plan, time sharing |
| Why it matters for support | Parenting schedule and financial disclosures shape guideline inputs | Parentage creates legal authority to order support and time sharing |
| Best first step | Align support with the marriage dissolution guide timeline | Start with a focused paternity plan |
| Common friction point | Variable income and incomplete disclosures | Disputes over parentage and parenting schedule details |
| Evidence type | What to gather | Why it matters |
| Income proof | Pay stubs, tax returns, business records | Anchors net income and reduces guesswork |
| Child cost proof | Childcare invoices, health insurance premium statements | Supports add-ons allocated in the worksheet |
| Schedule proof | Parenting plan drafts and overnight records | Supports time-sharing assumptions in guideline math |
Parents handling a dispute over a parenting schedule can ground their decisions in Florida custody factors.
Broward County filings often move faster when parents use the local court contact guide for procedural direction.
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
Missed support payments create immediate pressure on rent, childcare, health insurance, and school expenses.
A payment refusal response works best when the supported parent documents missed payments, preserves written communication, and moves enforcement through lawful channels rather than side deals that reduce traceable evidence.
Parents dealing with nonpayment often start by reviewing the firm’s breakdown of support refusal scenarios to ensure the next steps align with the facts and the existing order.
The Florida Department of Revenue’s child support program explains state-level services related to payment processing and enforcement support, and the program overview helps parents understand timelines and case steps.
Parenting time interference feels personal, but self-help can create financial and legal exposure.
Florida parents facing a schedule violation usually protect their case by documenting missed time, pursuing court remedies, and staying current on support, and the firm’s guide to a violated order explains what documentation matters.
Parents who need local court logistics can use the Broward court guide to confirm where filings and procedural questions typically route in the county.
Florida child support modification usually requires a substantial change in circumstances.
Common triggers include job loss, major income changes, significant changes in childcare and health insurance costs, and meaningful changes in the time-sharing schedule that shift the guideline inputs.
A strong modification request pairs updated documentation with a timeline showing when the change occurred and how it alters worksheet inputs on the official Form 12.902(e).
Evidence drives outcomes, so parents should collect documents that map directly to guideline inputs.
| Category | What to gather | Why it matters |
| Income proof | Recent pay stubs, W 2s, 1099s, and recent tax returns | Confirms net income inputs used in the guideline worksheet |
| Income proof | Self-employment records, including profit and loss statements and business bank statements | Supports business income calculations and reduces disputes over “true” earnings |
| Child cost proof | Childcare invoices and payment records tied to employment | Documents work-related childcare costs allocated in the support calculation |
| Child cost proof | Health insurance premium statements showing child coverage | Proves premium amounts and helps allocate medical support costs correctly |
| Schedule proof | Current parenting plan or written schedule | Establishes time-sharing assumptions used in guideline math |
| Schedule proof | A clean overnight log when the real schedule differs from the written schedule | Supports schedule accuracy and helps prevent later modification or enforcement conflicts |
A Florida child support plan protects stability by tying the monthly number to verified income, documented child costs, and a defensible parenting schedule.
Families seeking next steps can start by contacting the firm’s intake teamwhile documents are still being gathered, and that early intake often prevents delays that increase arrears or conflict.
How does Florida decide the amount of child support?
Florida courts usually calculate child support under Florida Statutes § 61.30, using both parents’ net income, child-related costs such as childcare and health insurance, and the time-sharing schedule. Courts can deviate only with case-specific findings supported by evidence, and the guidelines worksheet clearly shows the inputs.
Does 50 50 time sharing mean no child support in Florida?
Equal time-sharing does not automatically eliminate the need for child support. Income differences and child-related costs can still create a guideline payment obligation, because Florida guidelines weigh net income and expenses alongside overnights under the state formula used by courts.
What income counts for child support in Florida?
Florida courts can consider wages, bonuses, self-employment income, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, interest, annuities, pensions, and retirement benefits as income sources for guideline support. Courts typically rely on documentation rather than estimates, and the statutory definition controls categories.
Can a parent stop paying child support because parenting time was denied?
A parent should not stop paying child support because parenting time was denied. Child support nonpayment can create arrears and enforcement exposure, so parents typically pursue scheduled enforcement separately, using documentation such as the records described in the firm’s violated order guidance.
What happens when a parent refuses to pay child support?
A refusal to pay child support can trigger enforcement actions, arrears calculations, and payment interventions depending on the order and the facts. Many families review the Florida Department of Revenue program steps while also evaluating court enforcement options when the case requires faster judicial relief.
How long do Florida parents pay child support?
Florida child support usually continues until age 18. Florida law can extend support for a child between 18 and 19 who remains in high school and is reasonably expected to graduate before age 19 under the guideline statute that governs duration.
Can Florida child support change after a court enters an order?
Florida courts can modify child support when a substantial change in circumstances alters the guideline inputs, such as income, childcare costs, health insurance costs, or time-sharing. A modification request usually performs better when the filing includes current proof and a completed worksheet that shows the impact.
Do Florida parents need paternity to get child support?
Unmarried parents typically need legal parentage established before a Florida court enters a child support order. A focused paternity case creates the foundation for guideline calculations and enforceable support obligations.
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