Child Support in Orlando Florida

Orlando FL Child Support Lawyers

You can find the laws that govern child support in Chapter 61.13 of the Florida Statutes, and there you will see that the state uses what is called the Income Shares Model to determine the amount of child support that must be paid in accordance with the Florida Child Support Guidelines. The parent that must pay the child support is referred to as the “obligor,” and the recipient of the the payments is the “obligee.” Child custody laws in the state assert the fact that each parent is equally entitled to custody regardless of the gender of the child or children involved. So, though it is more common for the father to pay child support to the mother who has primary custody, this arrangement can be reversed upon the agreement of the parents involved or the order of the court.

Here is how the Income Shares Model works. Let’s say that Jason and Maria are divorced, they have one son named Marco, and Maria has primary physical custody. For the purposes of our example, the Florida Child Support Guidelines state that a total of $400 is required for Marco’s monthly care (this is a purely hypothetical amount). Jason’s income is $3,500 per month, and Maria’s income is $1,500 each month, so the combined income of Marco’s parents is $5,000. Under the Income Shares Model, each parent is equally responsible for the financial needs of the child according to their respective earnings as compared to the whole. Jason’s income represents 70% of the total of $5,000, so he must pay 70% of the $400 per month that is necessary to provide for Marco. Thus, his monthly child support payment will be $280.

It should be emphasized that child support is not meant to be used by the custodial parent for his or her own purposes. It is strictly intended to ensure the well being of the child or children involved, and it should be seen as such by both the obligor and the obligee.

For more information about child support, contact an experienced Orlando FL family lawyer for a free consultation.