How is Child Support Calculated?

In Florida, child support is not a fixed number. The amount of child support a spouse pays can be affected by many different factors. In this blog post, we will discuss some of those factors in more detail. We will also touch on what may happen if a spouse does not pay the required amount of child support.

Income

The first factor affecting how much child support a spouse pays is income. The court will look at both spouses' incomes and decide based on that. If one spouse has a higher income than the other, they may be required to pay more in child support.

Expenses

Another factor that can affect how much child support a spouse pays is expenses. If one spouse has higher expenses than the other (for example, if they have to pay for health insurance for the children), then they may be required to pay less in child support.

Special Needs

Special needs are a third factor affecting how much child support a spouse pays. If the children have any special needs (such as medical needs or educational needs), then the court may require the spouse with the higher income to pay more in child support.

Daycare or Childcare Costs

Additionally, daycare or childcare costs can affect how much child support a spouse pays. If one spouse has to pay for daycare or childcare costs, they may be required to pay less in child support.

What Happens if a Spouse Does Not Pay?

If a spouse does not pay the required amount of child support, there are a few things that could happen, including:

Wage/Bank Account Garnishment - The delinquent spouse's wages would be withheld from their paycheck and given to the other spouse.
Assets Liens - The delinquent spouse's assets (such as their home or vehicle) could be held as collateral until they pay the required amount of child support.
Criminal Charges - The delinquent spouse could be fined, arrested, and sent to jail for not paying child support.

In many scenarios, however, wage garnishment is the prevailing method of collecting child support from delinquent spouses.

How Owenby Law, P.A. Can Guide You Through Child Support

If you have any questions about child support or need help calculating how much child support you should pay/receive, Owenby Law, P.A. can help. We are experts in family law and can guide you through the process. Contact us today to get started.

If you have any other questions regarding child support, call us today at (904) 770-3141 for a free and confidential consultation!