Are You Seeking a Child Support Lawyer?

An experienced child support lawyer can help you navigate through the financial requisites to determine child support based upon the needs of your child. Not everyone understands how Florida courts calculate the amount of child support that the parties to a support case feel that they should be given or who are ordered to pay. With the help of experienced legal counsel, you can assure that your legal rights are protected, and that you have the help you need by your side every step of the way.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Florida

In the State of Florida, there is a table of income levels that helps to determine the amount of child support for a given number of children. This figure is used to calculate support with the incomes of both parents. Taxes, health insurance and daycare costs also are considered as well and are part of this formula that is applied to measure support payments.

Whenever child support becomes an issue, both parties must complete financial affidavits that detail their income and expenses thoroughly. They are filed with the court and sent to the other party. The gross income of the individual party will depend on which form they use (if the party earns $50,000 or less a year, a short form Financial Affidavit is required versus if the party earns $50,000 or more a year, a long form is required).

Each form will contain instructions on what income should be reported, including and not limited to: salary/wages, bonuses, commission, overtime, tips, business income, workers’ compensation or disability benefits, unemployment compensation, pension or retirement payments, social security payments, spousal support, interest/dividends, and may include other factors as well. Our experienced child support lawyer can help you file this affidavit legally to ensure that there are no issues in the future.

After incomes are determined and the monthly expenses, such as health insurance payments, daycare costs, and non-covered medical expenses for the child, child support would be calculated under the guidelines accordingly. The child support guidelines also take into consideration the number of overnights that the child spends with each parent.

Child Support Modifications

Once a child support order is entered by the court, it can only be changed if one of the parents shows a substantial, unanticipated, and material change in circumstance. The parent seeking modification will have to prove that this change in circumstance exists. This can include the situation of an involuntary loss of a job, a major change in income, change in expenses, etc. Our experienced attorney can help determine whether or not you have is a viable reason for a change and can help you file the necessary petition for this change when needed.

Turn to Our Clay County Child Support Lawyers Today

At Finnell, McGuinness, Nezami & Andux, PA, we offer legal consultations to those needing our legal expertise especially with child support matters in Clay County. To learn more about what we can do for you and to speak to a family law attorney as soon as possible, call 904-284-2970.