Florida Child Support Under F.S. 61.30
Florida child support follows a strict statutory formula based on both parents' incomes and the time-sharing arrangement. Understanding F.S. 61.30 is essential to ensuring fair support for your children.
“The trier of fact may order either or both parents to pay child support. The final judgment or order dividing the responsibility to provide child support shall contain the child support guideline schedule.”Calculate Your Support
Our Child Support Services Include:
- Guideline child support calculations
- Deviation arguments and analysis
- Income imputation for unemployed parents
- Support modification petitions
- Enforcement and contempt actions
- Healthcare cost allocation
- Extraordinary expense coverage
- Time-sharing impact analysis
How Florida Child Support Works
Florida uses the “Income Shares Model” to calculate child support. This model estimates what parents would have spent on their children if they remained together, then divides that amount between them based on income.
Step 1: Calculate Income
Both parents' gross monthly income is determined, including wages, bonuses, commissions, business income, and other sources.
Step 2: Apply Guidelines
The combined income is matched to the statutory schedule to determine the minimum child support need based on number of children.
Step 3: Adjust for Time-Sharing
The amount is adjusted based on each parent's overnight time-sharing. More overnights generally means lower child support payments.
Factors in the Guideline Calculation
“The guidelines schedule is based on the parent's combined net income and shall be used to determine the amount of support.”
Income Included
- Salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, tips
- Business income (gross receipts minus ordinary expenses)
- Disability benefits, workers' comp, unemployment
- Social Security benefits, pension, retirement
- Rental income, dividends, interest, trust income
- Reimbursed expenses that reduce personal expenses
Allowable Deductions
- Federal, state, and local income taxes
- FICA (Social Security and Medicare taxes)
- Mandatory union dues
- Mandatory retirement contributions
- Health insurance premiums (excluding child's portion)
- Court-ordered support for other children
AI-Powered Calculations
Victoria AI OS calculates child support using the official Florida Guidelines Worksheet. We run multiple scenarios to show you how different time-sharing arrangements affect support amounts.
- Instant guideline calculations
- Time-sharing scenario comparisons
- Deviation analysis
Additional Expenses
Beyond the guideline amount, courts may order parents to share:
- Health insurance premiums for the child
- Non-covered medical expenses (co-pays, deductibles, dental, vision)
- Childcare costs necessary for employment or job search
- Private school tuition (if agreed or historically paid)
- Extracurricular activities (sports, music, camps)
Deviation from the Guidelines
Courts may deviate from the guideline amount in certain circumstances. Understanding when deviation is appropriate can significantly impact your case.
5% Deviation Rule
“The court may adjust the child support award, or either or both parents' share of the minimum child support, based upon the following considerations...”
Courts may deviate up to 5% from the guideline amount without making specific written findings. Deviations greater than 5% require the court to explain why the guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate.
Grounds for Deviation
- Extraordinary medical, psychological, or educational needs of the child
- Independent income of the child (trust funds, employment)
- Seasonal variations in one parent's income or expenses
- Age of the child (older children may have higher needs)
- Special needs agreed to by both parents
- Total available assets of parents and child
- Impact of IRS dependency exemption and tax credits
Imputed Income
“Income shall be imputed to a parent if the parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. Income shall not be imputed to a parent who is unemployed or underemployed due to physical or mental incapacity or other circumstances beyond the parent's control.”
If a parent is capable of working but chooses not to, or takes a lower-paying job without good reason, the court can “impute” income to that parent based on their earning capacity.
Factors Courts Consider:
- Recent work history and employment qualifications
- Prevailing earnings in the community
- Availability of employers willing to hire
- Age, education level, and special skills
When Imputation Is NOT Appropriate
- Physical or mental incapacity prevents working
- Parent is caring for a child under age 3 (in certain circumstances)
- Legitimate career change or education that will increase future earnings
- Involuntary job loss with active job search efforts
- Stay-at-home parent arrangement agreed to during marriage
Modifying Child Support
Child support orders can be modified when circumstances change significantly.
Substantial Change in Circumstances
“The court may modify an order of child support upon a showing of a substantial change in the circumstances of the parties.”
- Significant income increase or decrease (typically 15% or more)
- Job loss or involuntary reduction in hours
- Change in time-sharing arrangement
- Child's needs have substantially changed
- Emancipation or aging out of a child
When Support Ends
Florida child support typically continues until:
- Age 18 — or high school graduation, whichever is later (but not past age 19)
- Marriage of the child
- Emancipation by court order or joining military
- Death of the child
Note: Florida does not automatically require parents to pay for college expenses. However, parents can agree to college support in their settlement.
Related Articles on Florida Child Support
Imputed Income in Florida Divorce
What happens when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed?
Read ArticleCan College Expenses Be Included in Child Support?
What Florida law says about paying for children's college education.
Read ArticleModifying Child Support After Job Loss
How to modify support when financial circumstances change significantly.
Read ArticleWhat If They Won't Pay Child Support?
Enforcement options when the other parent fails to pay.
Read ArticleTime-Sharing and Child Support
How custody arrangements affect child support calculations.
Read ArticleChild Support and Self-Employment
Calculating income for business owners and self-employed parents.
Read ArticleChild Support Services
Flat-fee services for child support matters—know your costs upfront.
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