Four Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in Florida
If you are a parent who is going through divorce, you likely have many questions about the process. Many of those questions likely revolve around the subject of child support. Our Tampa child support attorneys often hear many questions about this issue from divorcing parents. The most frequently asked questions we hear are outlined below, as well as the answers to them.
What Does Child Support Cover?
Disputes often arise between divorcing couples, or couples who have already gotten a divorce, about how child support payments are spent. Generally speaking, child support can be used for any expense that is related to raising a child. These may include:
- Food expenses
- Clothing expenses
- Vehicle expenses for the child’s travel
- Expenses related to providing shelter for the child such as mortgage payments and/or utilities
- Medical expenses
- Educational costs
Child support payments cannot be used solely for the recipient’s benefit. For example, a parent could not spend child support on a vacation they go on without the child.
How Do the Courts Determine Child Support in Florida?
If you think you will be ordered to pay child support during your divorce, you are likely concerned about how much you will be ordered to pay. On the other hand, if you believe you will receive child support, you may wonder if it will be enough to fully cover your child’s expenses. The courts in Florida take many factors into consideration when determining child support amounts and they are as follows:
- The child’s needs
- The income of each parent
- The cost of daycare or other childcare
- Health insurance expenses
- The number of overnight visits each parent has with the child
The last four factors are included in what is known as a Florida Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, which is what is used to calculate child support in Florida. If there are any special needs of the child, then that amount would be in addition to what is calculated in the Guidelines.
Do Fathers Always Pay Child Support?
No. Mothers and fathers in Florida have a legal obligation to financially support their children. Just as the courts will try to award equitable timesharing for parents, child support obligations will be equitable, as well, and primarily the income of the parents and the number of overnights determines who will pay more child support and who will pay child support to the other parent. The parent who has the greater obligation is the one who will make the payment to the other parent.
How Long are Child Support Payments Made?
In most cases, parents must pay child support until a child turns 18 years old. Still, there are times when parents may have to pay continuing support after a child’s 18th birthday. If a child is still in high school and they expect to graduate on or before their 19th birthday, parents must pay child support until high school graduation. Additionally, when a child is physically, medically, or emotionally dependent, parents may have to pay child support indefinitely until the child is no longer dependent.
Our Child Support Attorney in Tampa Can Answer Your Questions
When a child support matter arises, you will have many questions. At All Family Law Group, P.A., our Tampa child support attorneys can provide the answers you need so you can make the best informed decisions and be fully prepared for your case. Call us today at 813-672-1900 or connect with us online to request a free consultation of your case with one of our knowledgeable attorneys and to get the information you need. Se habla Español.
Source:
flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2012/61.30
