Child Support Information
When a Parent can ask for Child Support
A parent can ask for child support alone, or as part of another family law court case.
- A parent can ask for child support if they are married and want to get a divorce, legal separation, or annulment.
- If the parents are married and do not want to get a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, one parent can still ask for child support by submitting to the court a Petition for Custody and Support of Minor Children.
- A parent can ask for child support if they have been a victim of domestic violence and are asking for a domestic violence injunction. For more information about domestic violence, please click on the following link to navigate to our domestic violence page Domestic Violence – Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
- A parent can ask for child support as part of a paternity/parentage court case. A parentage case is for parents who are not married and have children together. It establishes who the legal parents of a child are.
If one of the parents is currently receiving public assistance, the Department of Revenue will automatically start a child support case against that parent. Please click on the following link for more information regarding the Department of Revenue. https://floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Pages/default.aspx
How Child Support is Calculated
Child support is the amount of money that a court orders a parent to pay every month to help pay for their child’s living expenses.
Florida uses a formula to calculate what amount one parent should pay to the other for child support based on the earnings of each parent, the amount for childcare and medical expenses, and the amount of time each parent spends with the child (overnights).
The guideline calculation depends on:
- How much money do the parents earn or can earn.
- How much is the other income each parent receives.
- How many children do these parents have together.
- How much time each parent spends with their children.
- The tax filing status of each parent.
- Support of children from other relationships.
- Health insurance expenses.
- Mandatory union dues.
- Mandatory retirement contributions.
- The cost of sharing daycare and health-care costs.
- Other relevant factors.
Florida Courts offers some free family law and child support downloadable forms; they may be found at: Family Law Forms / Domestic Relations Court Resources / Family Courts / Services – Florida Courts
For help with Department of Revenue Child Support matters, please contact the State Attorney’s Office Child Support Program at 305-530-2600 or visit their website: https://miamisao.com/child-support-program/applying-for-child-support-services/