Child Support

Child Support Attorney Serving St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Kenneth City, Clearwater, and Seminole, FL

Child support decisions affect your children's daily lives and your family's financial future. At Rosenthal Law Group, P.A., we help parents throughout the greater St. Petersburg area understand how Florida's child support laws apply to their circumstances and what to expect as they move through the process. Whether you're establishing a new support order or addressing questions about an existing one, having a clear understanding of the law is the first step toward protecting your child's needs.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Florida?

Child support in Florida is governed by Florida Statute §61.30, which establishes the state's child support guidelines. While the word "guidelines" might suggest flexibility, in practice, the amount calculated under these guidelines is the amount most often ordered by the court. Exceptions exist, but they apply only in exceptional circumstances—not simply because one or both parents would prefer a different outcome.

The guidelines were created to bring consistency and fairness to child support determinations across the state, ensuring that children in similar situations receive comparable support regardless of where in Florida their case is heard.

Can Parents Agree on the Amount of Child Support?

One of the most common questions we hear is whether parents can simply agree between themselves on a child support amount, potentially bypassing the guideline calculation altogether. Generally speaking, the answer is no.

Child support belongs to the child, not to either parent. Because of this, parents typically do not have the right to negotiate or waive the amount of support a child is entitled to receive. The guideline calculation exists specifically to protect that right, regardless of what the parents themselves might prefer.

That said, there are limited situations where a court may approve an amount that differs from the strict guideline calculation. These situations are fact-specific and far from routine. Anyone considering this path should discuss their particular circumstances with a family law attorney before assuming an alternative arrangement will be approved.

What Factors Are Used to Calculate Child Support?

Florida's child support formula relies on the net incomes of both parents. From there, several additional factors are incorporated into the calculation, including:

• Daycare costs associated with raising the child
• Healthcare costs, including insurance premiums and medical expenses attributable to the child
• Overnights each parent spends with the child throughout the year

These figures are entered into the statutory formula to arrive at a child support amount. Because every family's financial and parenting circumstances are different, the resulting figure can vary significantly from one case to another. No two calculations look exactly alike, which is why an individualized review of your income, expenses, and parenting schedule matters.