How Is Florida Child Support Calculated? 1

Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Attorney
Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

Florida child support is determined by the income of both parties. Florida has child support guidelines that provide a calculation to figure out what is owed to a parent.

Florida child support guidelines are based on the income of both parties, what their combined incomes are and what each parent’s share is to that total. For example, if you both make $5,000 per month then you have equal shares to the combined total of $10,000 per month. Therefore, child support is based on the needs of the child and divides that need by 50% to the parent having time-sharing.

Florida child support guidelines also factor in the time-sharing split. The idea is that if you are both spending 50% of your time with the child and making equal money, then no child support should be owed because you are equally responsible for the needs of the child.

When determining child support there are a number of other factors put into the equation, such as: insurance costs for the child; daycare costs for the child; and other factors. To best understand the calculation you should speak with a family law attorney.