Pensacola Child Support Attorneys

Call 800-822-5170 for Help with Your Child Support Case

Both parents are obligated to financially support their children. If you do not obtain primary custody of your kids, you will be responsible for making monthly child support payments. Unfortunately, the child support obligation can make starting a new chapter in life more difficult, which is why it is important to have an experienced lawyer help ensure the payments are fair.

At Virga Law Firm, P.A., we can help couples determine the appropriate amount of child support necessary to take care of the children. In addition, we can modify child support orders and seek legal remedies against parents who fail to make payments.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Florida?

When estimating child support, Florida adheres to an “Income Shares Model” based on each parent’s gross income. This means the family court will try to determine the amount of money each parent would have spent on their kids if they stayed together and didn’t divorce.

Common forms of gross income include:

• Salary or wages
• Overtime, tips, bonuses, commissions, and allowances
• Business income from being self-employed
• Retirement and pension payments
• Workers’ compensation and disability benefits
• Social Security benefits
• Unemployment compensation
• Rental income
• Income from estates, trusts, and royalties

Once each parent determines their gross income, they must deduct specific costs and expenses to come to their individual net income amount. Common deductions include local, state, and federal taxes, health insurance payments, retirement payments, union fees, and even child or spousal support from a previous marriage.

When each parent determines their net income, they are added together. The court then considers the Child Support Guidelines to figure out how child support is awarded based on each parent’s net income and the number of children in the marriage. Other expenses such as educational, health care, and childcare expenses are split between the parties.

Enforcing & Modifying Child Support in Florida

Our lawyers understand that parents may experience difficulties paying child support (e.g. losing a job or suffering a serious injury) or willfully ignoring payments. We understand what it takes to enforce and modify child support orders through the court system.

You may also be entitled to a modification if your child’s daycare and/or healthcare costs have increased or decreased since the original order was issued by the court.