The laws of the state of Florida grant the Florida Supreme Court the authority to establish child support guidelines, according to Florida Statutes Title VI, Chapter 61. The guidelines provide directives on how child support is computed in the first instance. Additionally, the guidelines are designed to direct the manner in which a child support obligation is amended after being established in the first instance.
Guidelines Schedule
Utilizing the net income from both parents, the Florida child support guidelines schedule establishes the base obligation the noncustodial parent must pay, explains the Florida Department of Revenue. Net income for the purposes of child support is determined by taking the gross income of both parents and subtracting certain allowable deductions. The permitted deductions are set forth in the child support guidelines themselves, a copy of which is provided to parents in all judicial proceedings in which child support is an issue.
Additions to Base Child Support
Florida child support guidelines permit additional amounts to be added to a base child support obligation in certain cases, states the Florida Department of Revenue. The most common reason an additional amount is added to the base child support obligation is health issues associated with the child. Other reasons are education-related expenses and child care costs.
Guidelines and Modification
The Florida child support guidelines establish the parameters required for a parent to seek a modification to an existing child support order. The law references what is known as a substantial change of circumstances, says Divorce Law Info. Specifically, before a child support order is changed in Florida, the law requires a recalculation using the gross income earned by both parents to determine what the potential new obligation will be pursuant to the guidelines. The change in the obligation must be different from the existing requirement by at least 15 percent or $50, whichever is greater.
Legal Assistance
Utilizing the Florida child support guidelines can be complicated. If facing a child support case, consider hiring an attorney to represent your rights and interests. The Florida Bar maintains a directory of attorneys in different practice areas, including child support cases.
