Child Support Lawyer in Orange Park FL
Child Support calculations are based on a specific formula provided by the Florida Statutes. You should consult with a child support lawyer in Orange Park FL if you have a case where child support is an issue.
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Quick Facts:
Filing Fees - $409 Duval County - slightly more or less in other counties
Service of Process - $30
Updated: September 2, 2011
Child Support Fact #1
The Florida Child Support Guidelines are used by the Courts to determine the amount of child support. Courts rarely deviate from the child support guidelines.
Child Support Fact #2
The Florida Child Support Guidelines allow for a reduction in child support when the paying parent spends more than 72 overnights with the child per year.
Child Support Fact #3
In general, the only factors considered by the Court when calculating child support are: incomes, medical insurance cost, and day care cost. Mortgage, rent, car payments, gas, clothes, etc. are not considered.
What can a Child Support Lawyer in Orange Park FL do for me?
The parent with whom the child does not spend a majority of its time will be required to provide a "reasonable" share of the cost of housing, food, clothing, education, medical and other needs typically provided by Florida parents. This "reasonable" amount is defined by the Child Support Guidelines in the Florida Statutes.
Expenses such as rent, mortgage, car payment, gas, food, clothing, and utilities are not relevant when determining a party's child support obligation. In fact, the amount of child support you think you need (or the amount you think you can afford to pay) are also irrelevant and will not be considered by the Court. The only factors that the court will consider are: (1) both parent’s incomes, (2) deductions allowed by statute, (3) child care costs, and (4) the cost of the child’s medical insurance.
A non-working parent may have income imputed to them. “Imputation” means that the court will assume – for the purposes of calculating child support – that the non-working parent receives a specific amount of income.
After income, the most important factor in calculating child support are the allowable deductions. The most common deductions are: (1) other child support that is ordered AND paid, (2) other alimony that is ordered AND paid, (3) local, state and federal income taxes, (4) union dues, and (5) your own medical insurance expense. Retirement contributions (unless they are mandatory) and garnishments are not allowed as deductions.
A party's child support obligation can be affected by the amount of time they spend with the child. If the parent who does not spend a majority of his/her time with the child has the children more than 20% of the overnights, then his/her child support obligation will be reduced or eliminated, depending on the specific financial circumstances of the parties.
You should consult with a child support lawyer in Orange Park FL to ensure that the child support calculations in your case will be performed properly. Please call the office with your questions.
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