Nagivating Child Support in Florida
Published in Clearwater Beach Neighborhood News
By Jake Hornstein & Greg Hill, Our Children Have Rights .Org (OCHR)
Navigating child support can be a complicated and emotional process. Having a clear understanding of Florida laws and the guidelines that govern child support payments is the best way to navigate the process more seamlessly, while avoiding major mistakes. At OCHR, we exist to help with this, at no cost to the family.
1. Overview of Child Support: Child support is grounded in the thought that both parents are legally and financially responsible for the child. A set of statutes is designed to protect the best interests of the child. The support obligations are overseen and enforced by The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR).
2. Understanding Support Payments: Support payments are the monetary contributions made by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent and are intended for the benefit of the child. Florida guidelines consider the combined monthly net income of both parents, health insurance costs, and the number of overnights the child spends with each parent.
3. Child Support Enforcement: Mechanisms by Florida courts are in place to ensure that a custodial parent receives the child support that they’re entitled to. Measures that can be employed to ensure payments are made include wage garnishment, property liens, and other legal resolutions. Rule of thumb, if you are required to pay child support, and you can’t make a full payment, pay what you can! Courts prefer to see effort in making payments and may frown upon no effort at all.
4. Can Child Support Orders Be Modified? Yes. A child support order can be adjusted under a “Substantial Change in Circumstances”. These include changes in income, employment status, changes in childcare expenses, overall changes in child expenses, and more. It’s essential for parents to have a clear understanding of the requirements to file a petition for modification of child support payments.
In conclusion, navigating child support requires an understanding of the legal context, guidelines, and enforcement methods. The more familiar a parent is with the complexities of child support, the more empowered they are to make educated decisions that prioritize the best interests of the child.
OCHR is a Pinellas based nonprofit that helps parents more seamlessly navigate their child custody and co-parenting journeys, at no cost to the family. We were recently recognized with the AMPLIFY Clearwater “Community Spirit Award". Support of our mission is vital, and we kindly ask our community to consider a financial contribution to our mission.
Most importantly, if you, or someone you know, needs our assistance, we’re here for you. We’re on a mission… A mission to protect the rights of children to have access to both responsible parents by providing education, resources, and support services for successful co-parenting. Why? Because Our Children Have Rights.
Contact Jake at JakeHornstein@OurChildrenHaveRights.com or www.OCHR.Org
To donate: www.ourchildrenhaverights.org/donate.