Child Support Laws in Florida

61.30 - Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.

1. (a)The child support guideline amount as determined by this section presumptively establishes the amount the trier of fact shall order as child support in an initial proceeding for such support or in a proceeding for modification of an existing order for such support, whether the proceeding arises under this or another chapter. The trier of fact may order payment of child support which varies, plus or minus 5 percent, from the guideline amount, after considering all relevant factors, including the needs of the child or children, age, station in life, standard of living, and the financial status and ability of each parent. The trier of fact may order payment of child support in an amount which varies more than 5 percent from such guideline amount only upon a written finding explaining why ordering payment of such guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate. Notwithstanding the variance limitations of this section, the trier of fact shall order payment of child support which varies from the guideline amount as provided in paragraph (11)(b) whenever any of the children are required by court order or mediation agreement to spend a substantial amount of time with either parent. This requirement applies to any living arrangement, whether temporary or permanent.
   
   (b)The guidelines may provide the basis for proving a substantial change in circumstances upon which a modification of an existing order may be granted. However, the difference between the existing monthly obligation and the amount provided for under the guidelines shall be at least 15 percent or $50, whichever amount is greater, before the court may find that the guidelines provide a substantial change in circumstances.
   
   (c)For each support order reviewed by the department as required by s. 409.2564(11), if the amount of the child support award under the order differs by at least 10 percent but not less than $25 from the amount that would be awarded under s. 61.30, the department shall seek to have the order modified and any modification shall be made without a requirement for proof or showing of a change in circumstances.
   
   
2. Income shall be determined on a monthly basis for each parent as follows:
   
   (a) Gross income shall include, but is not limited to, the following
   1. Salary or wages.
   2. Bonuses, commissions, allowances, overtime, tips, and other similar payments.
   3. Business income from sources such as self-employment, partnership, close corporations, and independent contracts. “Business income” means gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses required to produce income.
   4. Disability benefits.
   5. All workers’ compensation benefits and settlements.
   6. Unemployment compensation.
   7. Pension, retirement, or annuity payments.
   8. Social security benefits.
   9. Spousal support received from a previous marriage or court ordered in the marriage before the court.
   10. Interest and dividends.
   11. Rental income, which is gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses required to produce the income.
   12. Income from royalties, trusts, or estates.
   13. Reimbursed expenses or in kind payments to the extent that they reduce living expenses.
   14. Gains derived from dealings in property, unless the gain is nonrecurring.
   
   (b) Monthly income shall be imputed to an unemployed or underemployed parent if such unemployment or underemployment is found by the court to be voluntary on that parent’s part, absent a finding of fact by the court of physical or mental incapacity or other circumstances over which the parent has no control. In the event of such voluntary unemployment or underemployment, the employment potential and probable earnings level of the parent shall be determined based upon his or her recent work history, occupational qualifications, and prevailing earnings level in the community if such information is available. If the information concerning a parent’s income is unavailable, a parent fails to participate in a child support proceeding, or a parent fails to supply adequate financial information in a child support proceeding, income shall be automatically imputed to the parent and there is a rebuttable presumption that the parent has income equivalent to the median income of year-round full-time workers as derived from current population reports or replacement reports published by the United States Bureau of the Census. However, the court may refuse to impute income to a parent if the court finds it necessary for that parent to stay home with the child who is the subject of a child support calculation or as set forth below:
   
   
   1. In order for the court to impute income at an amount other than the median income of year-round full-time workers as derived from current population reports or replacement reports published by the United States Bureau of the Census, the court must make specific findings of fact consistent with the requirements of this paragraph. The party seeking to impute income has the burden to present competent, substantial evidence that:
      
      1. The unemployment or underemployment is voluntary; and
      2. Identifies the amount and source of the imputed income, through evidence of income from available employment for which the party is suitably qualified by education, experience, current licensure, or geographic location, with due consideration being given to the parties’ time-sharing schedule and their historical exercise of the time-sharing provided in the parenting plan or relevant order.
   2. Except as set forth in subparagraph 1., income may not be imputed based upon:
      1. Income records that are more than 5 years old at the time of the hearing or trial at which imputation is sought; or
      2. Income at a level that a party has never earned in the past, unless recently degreed, licensed, certified, relicensed, or recertified and thus qualified for, subject to geographic location, with due consideration of the parties’ existing time-sharing schedule and their historical exercise of the time-sharing provided in the parenting plan or relevant order.
      
      (c)Public assistance as defined in s. 409.2554 shall be excluded from gross income.
      
      
3. Net income is obtained by subtracting allowable deductions from gross income. Allowable deductions shall include:
   1. Federal, state, and local income tax deductions, adjusted for actual filing status and allowable dependents and income tax liabilities.
   2. Federal insurance contributions or self-employment tax.
   3. Mandatory union dues.
   4. Mandatory retirement payments.
   5. Health insurance payments, excluding payments for coverage of the minor child.
   6. Court-ordered support for other children which is actually paid.
   7. Spousal support paid pursuant to a court order from a previous marriage or the marriage before
4. Net income for each parent shall be computed by subtracting allowable deductions from gross income.
5. Net income for each parent shall be added together for a combined net income.
6. The following guidelines schedule shall be applied to the combined net income to determine the minimum child support need:

   Combined
   Monthly Net	Child or Children
   Income	One	Two	Three	Four	Five	Six
   800.00	190	211	213	216	218	220
   850.00	202	257	259	262	265	268
   900.00	213	302	305	309	312	315
   950.00	224	347	351	355	359	363
   1000.00	235	365	397	402	406	410
   1050.00	246	382	443	448	453	458
   1100.00	258	400	489	495	500	505
   1150.00	269	417	522	541	547	553
   1200.00	280	435	544	588	594	600
   1250.00	290	451	565	634	641	648
   1300.00	300	467	584	659	688	695
   1350.00	310	482	603	681	735	743
   1400.00	320	498	623	702	765	790
   1450.00	330	513	642	724	789	838
   1500.00	340	529	662	746	813	869
   1550.00	350	544	681	768	836	895
   1600.00	360	560	701	790	860	920
   1650.00	370	575	720	812	884	945
   1700.00	380	591	740	833	907	971
   1750.00	390	606	759	855	931	996
   1800.00	400	622	779	877	955	1022
   1850.00	410	638	798	900	979	1048
   1900.00	421	654	818	923	1004	1074
   1950.00	431	670	839	946	1029	1101
   2000.00	442	686	859	968	1054	1128
   2050.00	452	702	879	991	1079	1154
   2100.00	463	718	899	1014	1104	1181
   2150.00	473	734	919	1037	1129	1207
   2200.00	484	751	940	1060	1154	1234
   2250.00	494	767	960	1082	1179	1261
   2300.00	505	783	980	1105	1204	1287
   2350.00	515	799	1000	1128	1229	1314
   2400.00	526	815	1020	1151	1254	1340
   2450.00	536	831	1041	1174	1279	1367
   2500.00	547	847	1061	1196	1304	1394
   2550.00	557	864	1081	1219	1329	1420
   2600.00	568	880	1101	1242	1354	1447
   2650.00	578	896	1121	1265	1379	1473
   2700.00	588	912	1141	1287	1403	1500
   2750.00	597	927	1160	1308	1426	1524
   2800.00	607	941	1178	1328	1448	1549
   2850.00	616	956	1197	1349	1471	1573
   2900.00	626	971	1215	1370	1494	1598
   2950.00	635	986	1234	1391	1517	1622
   3000.00	644	1001	1252	1412	1540	1647
   3050.00	654	1016	1271	1433	1563	1671
   3100.00	663	1031	1289	1453	1586	1695
   3150.00	673	1045	1308	1474	1608	1720
   3200.00	682	1060	1327	1495	1631	1744
   3250.00	691	1075	1345	1516	1654	1769
   3300.00	701	1090	1364	1537	1677	1793
   3350.00	710	1105	1382	1558	1700	1818
   3400.00	720	1120	1401	1579	1723	1842
   3450.00	729	1135	1419	1599	1745	1867
   3500.00	738	1149	1438	1620	1768	1891
   3550.00	748	1164	1456	1641	1791	1915
   3600.00	757	1179	1475	1662	1814	1940
   3650.00	767	1194	1493	1683	1837	1964
   3700.00	776	1208	1503	1702	1857	1987
   3750.00	784	1221	1520	1721	1878	2009
   3800.00	793	1234	1536	1740	1899	2031
   3850.00	802	1248	1553	1759	1920	2053
   3900.00	811	1261	1570	1778	1940	2075
   3950.00	819	1275	1587	1797	1961	2097
   4000.00	828	1288	1603	1816	1982	2119
   4050.00	837	1302	1620	1835	2002	2141
   4100.00	846	1315	1637	1854	2023	2163
   4150.00	854	1329	1654	1873	2044	2185
   4200.00	863	1342	1670	1892	2064	2207
   4250.00	872	1355	1687	1911	2085	2229
   4300.00	881	1369	1704	1930	2106	2251
   4350.00	889	1382	1721	1949	2127	2273
   4400.00	898	1396	1737	1968	2147	2295
   4450.00	907	1409	1754	1987	2168	2317
   4500.00	916	1423	1771	2006	2189	2339
   4550.00	924	1436	1788	2024	2209	2361
   4600.00	933	1450	1804	2043	2230	2384
   4650.00	942	1463	1821	2062	2251	2406
   4700.00	951	1477	1838	2081	2271	2428
   4750.00	959	1490	1855	2100	2292	2450
   4800.00	968	1503	1871	2119	2313	2472
   4850.00	977	1517	1888	2138	2334	2494
   4900.00	986	1530	1905	2157	2354	2516
   4950.00	993	1542	1927	2174	2372	2535
   5000.00	1000	1551	1939	2188	2387	2551
   5050.00	1006	1561	1952	2202	2402	2567
   5100.00	1013	1571	1964	2215	2417	2583
   5150.00	1019	1580	1976	2229	2432	2599
   5200.00	1025	1590	1988	2243	2447	2615
   5250.00	1032	1599	2000	2256	2462	2631
   5300.00	1038	1609	2012	2270	2477	2647
   5350.00	1045	1619	2024	2283	2492	2663
   5400.00	1051	1628	2037	2297	2507	2679
   5450.00	1057	1638	2049	2311	2522	2695
   5500.00	1064	1647	2061	2324	2537	2711
   5550.00	1070	1657	2073	2338	2552	2727
   5600.00	1077	1667	2085	2352	2567	2743
   5650.00	1083	1676	2097	2365	2582	2759
   5700.00	1089	1686	2109	2379	2597	2775
   5750.00	1096	1695	2122	2393	2612	2791
   5800.00	1102	1705	2134	2406	2627	2807
   5850.00	1107	1713	2144	2418	2639	2820
   5900.00	1111	1721	2155	2429	2651	2833
   5950.00	1116	1729	2165	2440	2663	2847
   6000.00	1121	1737	2175	2451	2676	2860
   6050.00	1126	1746	2185	2462	2688	2874
   6100.00	1131	1754	2196	2473	2700	2887
   6150.00	1136	1762	2206	2484	2712	2900
   6200.00	1141	1770	2216	2495	2724	2914
   6250.00	1145	1778	2227	2506	2737	2927
   6300.00	1150	1786	2237	2517	2749	2941
   6350.00	1155	1795	2247	2529	2761	2954
   6400.00	1160	1803	2258	2540	2773	2967
   6450.00	1165	1811	2268	2551	2785	2981
   6500.00	1170	1819	2278	2562	2798	2994
   6550.00	1175	1827	2288	2573	2810	3008
   6600.00	1179	1835	2299	2584	2822	3021
   6650.00	1184	1843	2309	2595	2834	3034
   6700.00	1189	1850	2317	2604	2845	3045
   6750.00	1193	1856	2325	2613	2854	3055
   6800.00	1196	1862	2332	2621	2863	3064
   6850.00	1200	1868	2340	2630	2872	3074
   6900.00	1204	1873	2347	2639	2882	3084
   6950.00	1208	1879	2355	2647	2891	3094
   7000.00	1212	1885	2362	2656	2900	3103
   7050.00	1216	1891	2370	2664	2909	3113
   7100.00	1220	1897	2378	2673	2919	3123
   7150.00	1224	1903	2385	2681	2928	3133
   7200.00	1228	1909	2393	2690	2937	3142
   7250.00	1232	1915	2400	2698	2946	3152
   7300.00	1235	1921	2408	2707	2956	3162
   7350.00	1239	1927	2415	2716	2965	3172
   7400.00	1243	1933	2423	2724	2974	3181
   7450.00	1247	1939	2430	2733	2983	3191
   7500.00	1251	1945	2438	2741	2993	3201
   7550.00	1255	1951	2446	2750	3002	3211
   7600.00	1259	1957	2453	2758	3011	3220
   7650.00	1263	1963	2461	2767	3020	3230
   7700.00	1267	1969	2468	2775	3030	3240
   7750.00	1271	1975	2476	2784	3039	3250
   7800.00	1274	1981	2483	2792	3048	3259
   7850.00	1278	1987	2491	2801	3057	3269
   7900.00	1282	1992	2498	2810	3067	3279
   7950.00	1286	1998	2506	2818	3076	3289
   8000.00	1290	2004	2513	2827	3085	3298
   8050.00	1294	2010	2521	2835	3094	3308
   8100.00	1298	2016	2529	2844	3104	3318
   8150.00	1302	2022	2536	2852	3113	3328
   8200.00	1306	2028	2544	2861	3122	3337
   8250.00	1310	2034	2551	2869	3131	3347
   8300.00	1313	2040	2559	2878	3141	3357
   8350.00	1317	2046	2566	2887	3150	3367
   8400.00	1321	2052	2574	2895	3159	3376
   8450.00	1325	2058	2581	2904	3168	3386
   8500.00	1329	2064	2589	2912	3178	3396
   8550.00	1333	2070	2597	2921	3187	3406
   8600.00	1337	2076	2604	2929	3196	3415
   8650.00	1341	2082	2612	2938	3205	3425
   8700.00	1345	2088	2619	2946	3215	3435
   8750.00	1349	2094	2627	2955	3224	3445
   8800.00	1352	2100	2634	2963	3233	3454
   8850.00	1356	2106	2642	2972	3242	3464
   8900.00	1360	2111	2649	2981	3252	3474
   8950.00	1364	2117	2657	2989	3261	3484
   9000.00	1368	2123	2664	2998	3270	3493
   9050.00	1372	2129	2672	3006	3279	3503
   9100.00	1376	2135	2680	3015	3289	3513
   9150.00	1380	2141	2687	3023	3298	3523
   9200.00	1384	2147	2695	3032	3307	3532
   9250.00	1388	2153	2702	3040	3316	3542
   9300.00	1391	2159	2710	3049	3326	3552
   9350.00	1395	2165	2717	3058	3335	3562
   9400.00	1399	2171	2725	3066	3344	3571
   9450.00	1403	2177	2732	3075	3353	3581
   9500.00	1407	2183	2740	3083	3363	3591
   9550.00	1411	2189	2748	3092	3372	3601
   9600.00	1415	2195	2755	3100	3381	3610
   9650.00	1419	2201	2763	3109	3390	3620
   9700.00	1422	2206	2767	3115	3396	3628
   9750.00	1425	2210	2772	3121	3402	3634
   9800.00	1427	2213	2776	3126	3408	3641
   9850.00	1430	2217	2781	3132	3414	3647
   9900.00	1432	2221	2786	3137	3420	3653
   9950.00	1435	2225	2791	3143	3426	3659
   10000.00	1437	2228	2795	3148	3432	3666

   (a) If the obligor parent’s net income is less than the amount in the guidelines schedule:
   
   1. The parent should be ordered to pay a child support amount, determined on a case-by-case basis, to establish the principle of payment and lay the basis for increased support orders should the parent’s income increase.
   2. The obligor parent’s child support payment shall be the lesser of the obligor parent’s actual dollar share of the total minimum child support amount, as determined in subparagraph 1., and 90 percent of the difference between the obligor parent’s monthly net income and the current poverty guidelines as periodically updated in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s. 9902(2) for a single individual living alone.
   
   (b) For combined monthly net income greater than the amount in the guidelines schedule, the obligation is the minimum amount of support provided by the guidelines schedule plus the following percentages multiplied by the amount of income over $10,000:
   
   Child or Children
   

   One	Two	Three	Four	Five	Six
   5.0%	7.5%	9.5%	11.0%	12.0%	12.5%

7. Child care costs incurred due to employment, job search, or education calculated to result in employment or to enhance income of current employment of either parent shall be added to the basic obligation. After the child care costs are added, any moneys prepaid by a parent for child care costs for the child or children of this action shall be deducted from that parent’s child support obligation for that child or those children. Child care costs may not exceed the level required to provide quality care from a licensed source.
   
   
8. Health insurance costs resulting from coverage ordered pursuant to s. 61.13(1)(b), and any noncovered medical, dental, and prescription medication expenses of the child, shall be added to the basic obligation unless these expenses have been ordered to be separately paid on a percentage basis. After the health insurance costs are added to the basic obligation, any moneys prepaid by a parent for health-related costs for the child or children of this action shall be deducted from that parent’s child support obligation for that child or those children.
   
   
9. Each parent’s percentage share of the child support need shall be determined by dividing each parent’s net monthly income by the combined net monthly income.
   
   
10. Each parent’s actual dollar share of the total minimum child support need shall be determined by multiplying the minimum child support need by each parent’s percentage share of the combined monthly net income.
    
    
11. (a)The court may adjust the total minimum child support award, or either or both parents’ share of the total minimum child support award, based upon the following deviation factors:
    
    1. Extraordinary medical, psychological, educational, or dental expenses.
    2. Independent income of the child, not to include moneys received by a child from supplemental security income.
    3. The payment of support for a parent which has been regularly paid and for which there is a demonstrated need.
    4. Seasonal variations in one or both parents’ incomes or expenses.
    5. The age of the child, taking into account the greater needs of older children.
    6. Special needs, such as costs that may be associated with the disability of a child, that have traditionally been met within the family budget even though fulfilling those needs will cause the support to exceed the presumptive amount established by the guidelines.
    7. Total available assets of the obligee, obligor, and the child.
    8. The impact of the Internal Revenue Service Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and dependency exemption and waiver of that exemption. The court may order a parent to execute a waiver of the Internal Revenue Service dependency exemption if the paying parent is current in support payments.
    9. An application of the child support guidelines schedule that requires a person to pay another person more than 55 percent of his or her gross income for a child support obligation for current support resulting from a single support order.
    10. The particular parenting plan, such as where the child spends a significant amount of time, but less than 20 percent of the overnights, with one parent, thereby reducing the financial expenditures incurred by the other parent; or the refusal of a parent to become involved in the activities of the child.
    11. Any other adjustment that is needed to achieve an equitable result which may include, but not be limited to, a reasonable and necessary existing expense or debt. Such expense or debt may include, but is not limited to, a reasonable and necessary expense or debt that the parties jointly incurred during the marriage.
    
    (b) Whenever a particular parenting plan provides that each child spend a substantial amount of time with each parent, the court shall adjust any award of child support, as follows:
    1. In accordance with subsections (9) and (10), calculate the amount of support obligation apportioned to each parent without including day care and health insurance costs in the calculation and multiply the amount by 1.5.
    2. Calculate the percentage of overnight stays the child spends with each parent.
    3. Multiply each parent’s support obligation as calculated in subparagraph 1. by the percentage of the other parent’s overnight stays with the child as calculated in subparagraph 2.
    4. The difference between the amounts calculated in subparagraph 3. shall be the monetary transfer necessary between the parents for the care of the child, subject to an adjustment for day care and health insurance expenses.
    5. Pursuant to subsections (7) and (8), calculate the net amounts owed by each parent for the expenses incurred for day care and health insurance coverage for the child.
    6. Adjust the support obligation owed by each parent pursuant to subparagraph 4. by crediting or debiting the amount calculated in subparagraph 5. This amount represents the child support which must be exchanged between the parents.
    7. The court may deviate from the child support amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph 6. based upon the deviation factors in paragraph (a), as well as the obligee parent’s low income and ability to maintain the basic necessities of the home for the child, the likelihood that either parent will actually exercise the time-sharing schedule set forth in the parenting plan granted by the court, and whether all of the children are exercising the same time-sharing schedule.
    8. For purposes of adjusting any award of child support under this paragraph, “substantial amount of time” means that a parent exercises time-sharing at least 20 percent of the overnights of the year.
    
    (c) A parent’s failure to regularly exercise the court-ordered or agreed time-sharing schedule not caused by the other parent which resulted in the adjustment of the amount of child support pursuant to subparagraph (a)10. or paragraph (b) shall be deemed a substantial change of circumstances for purposes of modifying the child support award. A modification pursuant to this paragraph is retroactive to the date the noncustodial parent first failed to regularly exercise the court-ordered or agreed time-sharing schedule.
    
    
12. (a) A parent with a support obligation may have other children living with him or her who were born or adopted after the support obligation arose. If such subsequent children exist, the court, when considering an upward modification of an existing award, may disregard the income from secondary employment obtained in addition to the parent’s primary employment if the court determines that the employment was obtained primarily to support the subsequent children.
    
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), the existence of such subsequent children should not as a general rule be considered by the court as a basis for disregarding the amount provided in the guidelines schedule. The parent with a support obligation for subsequent children may raise the existence of such subsequent children as a justification for deviation from the guidelines schedule. However, if the existence of such subsequent children is raised, the income of the other parent of the subsequent children shall be considered by the court in determining whether or not there is a basis for deviation from the guideline amount.
    
    (c) The issue of subsequent children under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) may only be raised in a proceeding for an upward modification of an existing award and may not be applied to justify a decrease in an existing award.
    
    
13. If the recurring income is not sufficient to meet the needs of the child, the court may order child support to be paid from nonrecurring income or assets.
    
    
14. Every petition for child support or for modification of child support shall be accompanied by an affidavit which shows the party’s income, allowable deductions, and net income computed in accordance with this section. The affidavit shall be served at the same time that the petition is served. The respondent, whether or not a stipulation is entered, shall make an affidavit which shows the party’s income, allowable deductions, and net income computed in accordance with this section. The respondent shall include his or her affidavit with the answer to the petition or as soon thereafter as is practicable, but in any case at least 72 hours prior to any hearing on the finances of either party.
    
    
15. For purposes of establishing an obligation for support in accordance with this section, if a person who is receiving public assistance is found to be noncooperative as defined in s. 409.2572, the department may submit to the court an affidavit or written declaration signed under penalty of perjury as specified in s. 92.525(2) attesting to the income of that parent based upon information available to the department.
    
    
16. The Legislature shall review the guidelines schedule established in this section at least every 4 years beginning in 1997.
    
    
17. In an initial determination of child support, whether in a paternity action, dissolution of marriage action, or petition for support during the marriage, the court has discretion to award child support retroactive to the date when the parents did not reside together in the same household with the child, not to exceed a period of 24 months preceding the filing of the petition, regardless of whether that date precedes the filing of the petition. In determining the retroactive award in such cases, the court shall consider the following:
    
    (a) The court shall apply the guidelines schedule in effect at the time of the hearing subject to the obligor’s demonstration of his or her actual income, as defined by subsection (2), during the retroactive period. Failure of the obligor to so demonstrate shall result in the court using the obligor’s income at the time of the hearing in computing child support for the retroactive period.
    
    (b) All actual payments made by a parent to the other parent or the child or third parties for the benefit of the child throughout the proposed retroactive period.
    
    (c) The court should consider an installment payment plan for the payment of retroactive child support.