Securing Financial Stability and Proper Support for Your Children
Every child has a legal right to receive financial support from both parents. Whether you are going through a divorce or establishing parental rights through a paternity case, making sure your children have the resources they need is a top priority. At Law Offices of Renée Safier Harris, PLLC, we use over 32 years of family law experience to guide you through the calculation process. We work closely with you to protect your rights, verify income numbers accurately, and ensure a fair outcome that supports your children’s well-being.
If you’re considering a divorce or need legal guidance, reach out online or call (561)404-9710.
How Florida Child Support is Determined
Florida child support is calculated using standard rules set by state law. The calculation process looks at the net income of both parents together to decide the total amount needed to raise the children. While the math follows a set formula, it is critical to ensure that all income numbers are completely accurate. Our legal team helps you gather the correct financial documents so that the final support amount is fair and truly provides for your family.
Legal Support Services We Provide
Establishing Support
We guide you through the process of setting up initial child support payments during a divorce case or a formal paternity action.
Modifying Current Orders
If your financial situation or job changes significantly, we help you petition the court to increase or decrease your current support payments.
Enforcement Assistance
If you have a court order but the other parent is refusing to pay, we help you take legal action to collect the past-due support.
Verifying Income Accuracy
We review tax returns, business records, and pay stubs to make sure the other parent is reporting their full income honestly to the court.
Essential Expenses Included in Support Plans
A basic child support plan is meant to cover more than just food and housing. Under Florida law, parents must also divide specific costs to ensure the children are fully protected. A final child support order will clearly outline how you and the other parent share the following expenses:
- The cost of monthly health insurance premiums for the children.
- All out-of-pocket medical, dental, and prescription expenses.
- Necessary work-related childcare costs or daycare fees.
- Approved educational fees, school supplies, and tutoring needs.
- Special extracurricular activities, sports equipment, and camp costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in Boca Raton
Under the Florida statutory guidelines, the exact number of overnight visits allocated to each parent in your Parenting Plan directly influences child support. If a parent has the children for 73 or more overnights per year, the court applies a specialized “substantial timesharing” formula. This adjustive math lowers the monthly support obligation for the parent who pays, reflecting the direct costs they incur while caring for the child during those overnights.
Florida family courts look at all sources of gross income to begin the guidelines worksheets. This encompasses standard hourly wages, salaries, business profits, commissions, bonuses, workers’ compensation, and social security benefits. If a parent is intentionally underemployed or unemployed to avoid paying support, a judge has the authority to impute income based on that parent’s historical employment qualifications and localized earnings potential.
Yes. A post-judgment modification petition can be filed if you experience a substantial, ongoing, and involuntary change in financial circumstances. To qualify for an official support adjustment, the structural shift must cause a change in the monthly child support calculation of at least 15 percent or 50 dollars, whichever amount is greater. Common grounds include job loss, long-term illness, or significant shifts in childcare expenses.
In most situations, child support obligations legally terminate on the child’s 18th birthday. However, there are two primary exceptions under state law. Support can extend until graduation if the child is still enrolled full-time in high school and has a reasonable expectation of graduating before turning 19. Additionally, if a child has a documented physical or mental dependency that began before adulthood, support can be extended indefinitely.
