Estimate Your Florida Child Support in Minutes
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Florida Family Code in under a minute.
Florida Child Support Calculator
Estimate based on Florida guideline structure (income shares + substantial time-sharing adjustment). For informational purposes only.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Results may differ based on judicial findings, guideline table lookups, and case facts.
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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
Child Support in Florida
Discover what you need to know about Child Support Laws in Florida.
Florida calculates child support using statewide guidelines in Florida Statutes § 61.30, which follow an income-shares approach. The calculation considers:
Number of Children
Both parents’ gross incomes
Each parent’s proportional share of the combined income
For an estimate tailored to your situation, you can use the Deliberately.ai child support calculator above, but only a court order is legally binding.
Florida child support is influenced by each parent’s income, the number of children, and specific guideline adjustments. Common factors include work-related childcare, health insurance premiums for the child, and certain allowable deductions. Courts can also deviate from the guideline amount when legally justified.
There’s no single dollar amount that fits everyone. The amount depends on both parents’ financial details and how the guideline schedule applies. For a practical estimate before filing or negotiating, use the Deliberately.ai calculator above—just remember the court has final authority on the order amount.
In most cases, child support ends when the child turns 18. However, support can continue for a child who is between 18 and 19, still in high school, and making a good-faith effort toward graduation with an expectation of graduating before age 19.
Not always in the way people expect. Florida law requires most child support orders (entered on or after October 1, 2010) to include specific termination language—often including a termination date or a clear trigger event. It’s still smart to confirm the termination terms in your actual order, especially when income withholding is involved.
Yes. Florida allows child support to be modified when the legal standard is met (commonly a substantial change in circumstances). A key point: past-due amounts that accrued before you file are generally not changeable, and modifications typically apply to amounts accruing after the date you file the motion/petition.
If both parents agree and the paperwork is clean, a modification may be resolved in a few weeks to a few months. If the case is contested (self-employment income, disputed deductions, missing documents), it often takes longer depending on court scheduling and the evidence needed.
It can—if those costs are properly included in the guideline calculation and reflected in the final order. Simply paying medical bills on your own doesn’t automatically reduce your monthly support unless the court order accounts for it (or you get the order modified).
Florida uses a guideline framework based on parents’ incomes (net income for guideline purposes) and includes many common income types—wages, bonuses, commissions, and potentially self-employment income—subject to the statute’s definitions and allowed deductions.
If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, income may be imputed in appropriate cases.
Unpaid support can trigger enforcement tools such as wage withholding, liens, tax refund intercepts, license suspension, and court actions depending on the situation.
As arrears grow, enforcement options tend to escalate.
Arrears generally remain owed until paid. Even if the child support obligation ends, collection on arrears can continue. It’s usually best to address arrears early, because enforcement can become more aggressive as balances accumulate.
Yes. Wage withholding is very common, and additional enforcement can include liens and other collection tools. In some situations, accounts can be frozen through enforcement processes.
In serious cases, nonpayment can lead to court enforcement actions (including contempt proceedings), especially where the court believes the nonpayment is willful. If you’re at risk of contempt or enforcement hearings, getting legal advice early can prevent expensive mistakes.
Not automatically. Parenting time matters, but income differences remain a major driver. Florida’s guideline method can include timesharing adjustments in certain situations, but shared custody doesn’t “erase” child support—many shared-time cases still result in support.
Florida guideline support commonly ends at 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school under the statutory conditions). Different rules may apply for certain disability-related circumstances, but college support is not “automatic” under the basic guideline rule and usually depends on specific legal findings or agreements.
Parents can agree on many things, but they generally can’t privately override a court order. If you want to change the amount, the safe route is to file properly so the court can review and approve the change.
Not necessarily for straightforward cases. But if income is disputed, self-employment is involved, arrears exist, or a deviation from guidelines is being requested, having a Florida family lawyer can help you present the right financial picture and avoid delays.
Commonly needed documents include recent pay stubs, tax returns (especially important for self-employment), proof of health insurance costs for the child, childcare receipts, and copies of existing court orders. Missing or incomplete paperwork is one of the biggest reasons cases slow down.
Child support is typically handled through the Florida family court process, and many families also work with the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program for establishing, enforcing, or changing support.
If parentage, income, or expenses are likely to be contested, speaking with a Florida family lawyer before filing can help you move faster and avoid costly missteps.
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