Florida statutes mandate that every initial divorce and initial paternity proceeding involving a minor child must include an award of child support. Child support is based on a number of factors, including the parties’ time-sharing schedule, the parties’ income, the cost of the child’s health care and the cost of the child’s daycare. I am committed to achieving accurate child support calculations by determining the actual income of each party and paying attention to details such as child care costs and health insurance costs, which are often left unconsidered.
Florida provides a “formula” that calculates child support guidelines as mandated by statute. Child support is generally paid on a monthly basis or in accordance with the payors pay cycle, and is often paid through an Income Withholding Order. If a parent does not remain current on child support, an action for contempt and enforcement can be initiated. Often, the party failing to remain current on child support will be responsible for the attorney’s fees of the party seeking enforcement.
If a parent refuses to participate in the discovery process or refuses to turn over accurate financial information, the courts are now empowered to input an average median income. Additionally, the courts have the power to award retroactive child support for up to 2 years Florida Statute 61.07 says, “The court has discretion to award child support retroactive to the date when the parents did not reside together in the same household with the child, not to exceed a period of 24 months preceding the filing of the petition.”
My job is to make sure you understand and know what your child support rights are.
