ORLANDO CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEY
If you’re dealing with a child support case in Florida, the amount of child support that you’re awarded is controlled by statute. With that said, its often still a challenge to get an accurately calculated support amount to the recipient. At The 850-Call-JOE Law Firm, Orlando child support lawyer Joe Knape has years of experience helping parents in the Central Florida region with child support cases. We believe that parents have a primary obligation to support their under-age children.
Child support in Orlando is not intended to be used for the benefit of either parent; instead, it is the child or children who should benefit primarily from the support amounts. Also, child support is intended for the provision of basic necessities, it is not intended to be spent on luxury items or items that are not for the child’s basic necessities.
In all child support cases, it is crucial that you understand exactly how Florida’s child support laws relate to your particular situation.
WHAT ARE THE FLORIDA CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES?
To make sure you receive a fair and efficient settlement of support issues and minimize the need for a lawsuit, the state of Florida provides guidelines that parents and courts use to determine proper child support amounts.
WHAT FACTORS DOES THE FLORIDA COURT CONSIDER IN ALLOCATING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS?
When child support is an issue in a court case, the divorcing parents must file and exchange financial affidavits verifying their income and expenses, and complete a Child Support Guidelines Worksheet. The courts estimate the monthly costs that would be spent on the children if the family was still united. After determining the total, the payments are then divided between the parents based on their respective incomes and other parental factors, including:
- How many nights will each parent have the children?
- Daycare expenses
- Provision of medical and dental insurance
- Uninsured medical payments
If the parent who is not granted primary custody of the children still has more than 40% of the nights in a year with the child, then that parent’s financial obligation is usually reduced.
When determining child support awards in Orlando, Florida, the respective salaries and wealth of the parents are major factors.
Among other factors, a parent will pay child support according to both his or her willingness to pay and earning capacity.
Its why it’s imperative that you have as much financial data as possible about you and the child’s other parent. By providing correct income records, you will guarantee that you either obtain a reasonable support award or are not committed to paying more than you should need to. Our child support attorneys will assist you in retrieving as much income-related information as possible.
In the eyes of the court, your income includes the following:
- Wages
- Commissions
- Bonuses
- Alimony
- Interest-based income streams,
- Worker’s compensation
- Pension or Retirement Benefits
The court will, however, deduct certain expenses in determining the child support payments:
- Income tax payments
- Health insurance premiums
- Mandatory union dues
- Retirement, Social Security, and Medicare payments
- Alimony
- Court-ordered child support payments from other relationships.
When it comes to assessing child care, measuring income can also be one of the most demanding problems. Our child support lawyers will help ensure that your partner does not conceal revenues and that you reveal the correct details about your personal financial circumstances accurately. Even if you are being sued for child support or would like to take legal action against a former spouse, you may be able to avoid a court appearance. Our family law team works to settle disputes before the situation gets out of hand.
YOUR TRUSTWORTHY CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEY IN ORLANDO, FL
Child support laws can be very complicated, and when it comes to figuring out child support, the process can involve several steps. If you need to hire a child support lawyer to help you with any aspect of child support, whether it be collecting child support, getting a support order modified, or other issues. Your Orlando Child Support Lawyer Joe Knape will provide you with smart and effective legal advice, should you have any questions or worries. From our offices in Orlando, FL, we work with clients throughout the greater Central Florida area, including Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Polk Counties. Get your FREE Consultation with the 850-CALL-JOE Law Firm by calling 850-225-5563 today!