Child Support Laws

New 2010 Child Support Law

Child Support and The Long Arm of the Law

Enforcing Child Support - Motion for Contempt

Garnishment for Support and Federal Limits

How Florida Collects Child Support - Disbursement Unit

Florida Statute for State Disbursement Unit - SDU

Modifying Child Support - Supplemental Petition to Modify Support

Child Support Laws

Child Support Calculator

Child support is fairly cut and dried but can have complicated and dangerous twists. This is one of the few areas of divorce and family law that intersect with criminal law. One hundred years ago, debtors prisons existed in America. Now they are outlawed. But prison is still a reality in child support collection issues. Case law for Florida child support provides for severe penalties for non-payment of your child support payments. The actual calculation of child support is straightforward - directly from child support guidelines.  But there are many reasons to vary from the child support guidelines - and many different judges with different opinions.

Child Support Payments - Bottom line: When you are going to pay or receive child support - you are making a commitment for the next 18 years. Payers that fall behind can end up with shattered lives. Parents that receive child support can be cheated out of many thousands of dollars. Take child support for what it is: a deadly serious issue that deserves the attention of a professional familiar with current child support laws.

Child Support Laws - questions and answers

I have high expenses. Will this reduce child support? Probably not. Child support guidelines and case law for Florida child support calls for calculations based on the income of both parents. Expenses do not normally affect the final child support determination.

I cannot afford both alimony and child support payments . What now? Under Florida law, alimony is deducted from your income and the resulting number is used for child support. So if you pay alimony, child support payments will be reduced.

Can the amount of child support payments be changed? Yes. Child support payments can almost always be modified. The Florida child support guidelines are used to determine the new amount of payments, based on the updated income of the parents. Unfortunately, you must go back to court for the modification.

Are child support payments tax deductible? Unlike Alimony, child support payments are never tax deductible. This is determined by IRS code.