How is child support calculated in Florida? This is one of the questions you may ask if you are going through a divorce with a child.
Different elements are typically considered when determining the appropriate child support in a case. They include:
The income of both parents
Your monthly income and that of your spouse are crucial factors when calculating child support. Income in this context includes your salary, bonus, commissions, allowances, tips, business income, disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits and settlements, reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation, retirement benefits, social security benefits, spousal support from a previous marriage, interests and dividends, rental income, income from royalties/trusts/estates, reimbursed expenses and gains derived from dealings in property.
Your total combined monthly net income will then be divided by the number of children according to Florida’s child support guidelines.
The child’s health care and childcare costs
The second factor considered when calculating child support includes monthly childcare costs (which should not exceed the level required to provide quality care from a licensed source), health insurance costs and non-covered mental, dental and prescription medication expenses.
Additional support payments
Child support can be adjusted based on factors such as extraordinary expenses (medical, psychological dental and educational costs), the child’s age (older children have greater needs), special needs and independent income of the child among others.
Which parent pays the other?
The parent who exercises time-sharing less than 20% (73 overnights per year) “pays” the other. Other elements will be to the calculation when each parent exercises at least 20% of the overnights in a year.
Calculating child support can be complicated so it is best to take legal help to protect your rights.