Child support
Child-support questions begin with the financial information, the parenting schedule, and any order already in place.
Fort Lauderdale office · Broward, Miami-Dade & Palm Beach
- 01Income
- 02Child-related costs
- 03Parenting schedule
Understand the inputs before the number.
Information behind the calculation
Income, child-related costs, and the applicable time-sharing information belong in the same discussion. A rough online estimate cannot resolve disputed inputs.
Florida’s guidelines are set out in section 61.30. They begin with financial inputs and specified child-related costs; the applicable parenting schedule also matters. The right records help counsel distinguish a disputed input from a disagreement about the amount.
New support, payment dispute, or change?
Tell us whether you need an initial order, have a question about payments, or want an existing obligation reviewed. These are different starting points.
Keep the record clear
Payment history and the actual order help distinguish a missed-payment issue from a disagreement about expenses or the amount due. Keep the order, payment records and disputed expenses organized by date.
What needs attention?
An initial calculation
Organize income records, insurance and child-care costs, and the parenting schedule for review.
Payments or expenses
Compare the payment record with what the order actually requires. Identify the dates, amounts and expenses that need to be reconciled.
A change in circumstances
Bring the current order and describe what changed. Counsel can review whether a modification request is appropriate.
Before we speak.
What information is used in a child-support review?
Florida’s guidelines address income and specified child-related costs, with time-sharing information also relevant. The reliability of the inputs matters as much as the calculation.
What if the Department of Revenue is involved?
Tell intake and have the latest notice available. An agency proceeding and another family-law case may need to be reviewed together.
What if income includes bonuses, overtime or a business?
Section 61.30 includes these sources in its income framework. For business income, the statute distinguishes gross receipts from income after ordinary and necessary expenses. Records covering the income source and its expenses help counsel review the figure; a single pay period may not tell the whole story.
Is changing an order the same as enforcing it?
No. A modification review concerns whether the existing amount should change under the applicable standards. An enforcement question concerns obligations already imposed. Bring the order, payment history and a description of any changed circumstances so counsel can identify the appropriate review.
Talk with GFC LAW
Tell us the general matter type and any approaching deadline. We will confirm consultation availability and next steps.