Why families come to Connect Attorneys
Connect Attorneys is a Miami law firm serving clients throughout South Florida. Our family law attorneys focus on giving clients clear information and steady guidance, explaining how Florida law may apply and what to expect at each stage. Every client works directly with an attorney, and we serve South Florida families in English and Spanish.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Florida
Florida calculates child support using a statewide formula that considers both parents' incomes, the number of children, the time-sharing schedule, and certain costs such as health insurance and childcare. The formula follows what is called an income-shares model: it starts from what the parents together would be expected to spend on the child, then divides that obligation between them in proportion to their incomes. Because the guideline figures change over time, we do not publish specific dollar amounts here; we help each client apply the current guidelines to their own numbers.
Most of the calculation runs on two documents: each parent's financial affidavit and the child support guidelines worksheet. Getting the inputs right, on both sides, matters more than anything else in a support case, because the formula can only be as accurate as the numbers that go into it.
(Source: Fla. Stat. § 61.30.)
What Counts as Income
Income for child support is broader than a salary. The guidelines look at earnings from most sources, generally including wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment and business income, disability and workers' compensation benefits, pensions and retirement payments, and recurring investment income. If a parent is unemployed or underemployed by choice, a court can also impute income, meaning it calculates support based on what that parent could reasonably earn rather than what they report.
(Source: Fla. Stat. § 61.30.)
How Time-Sharing Affects the Amount
The parenting schedule is part of the math. When a child spends a substantial share of overnights with each parent, the guidelines adjust the calculation to reflect that both households are carrying day-to-day costs. This is one reason time-sharing and child support are usually worked out together rather than separately: a change in the schedule can change the support number.
A common misconception is that equal time-sharing means no one pays support. That is not how the formula works. Incomes still matter, and when parents earn different amounts, support is generally still owed even on a 50/50 schedule.
(Source: Fla. Stat. § 61.30.)
Until When Is Child Support Paid
Support generally runs until the child turns 18. Florida law allows a court to extend it for a child who is between 18 and 19, still in high school, dependent in fact, and performing in good faith with a reasonable expectation of graduating before turning 19. Different rules can apply in other situations, so the end date in your order is worth reading carefully.
(Source: Fla. Stat. § 743.07(2).)
Establishing, Enforcing, and Modifying Support
We help parents set up a child support order, enforce an order when the other parent is not paying, and seek a modification when circumstances change. A modification generally requires a substantial change, such as a significant shift in income or in the time-sharing schedule; our modifications page explains how that process works. Support questions also come up when parentage has to be established first, which is where a paternity case comes in.
(Source: Fla. Stat. § 61.30.)
Serving Miami-Dade Families
Child support matters in Miami-Dade are generally heard in the family divisions of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, with filings made through the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts; family matters are heard at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center. Both parents exchange financial affidavits early in the case, so gathering pay records before you file saves time. If you want to see what the court process itself looks like, start with our guide to what to expect at the Miami-Dade family courthouse, or the broader overview on our family law page. From our Brickell Avenue office, we help parents throughout South Florida understand their rights and obligations.
This is general information about Florida law, not legal advice. How these rules apply depends on the details of your situation. Talking with an attorney is the clearest way to understand what they mean for you.