1. Florida Child Support Guidelines

Florida uses an income shares model that considers both parents' incomes, time-sharing arrangements, and child-related expenses to determine support obligations.

2. How the Calculation Works

The calculator uses a simplified version of Florida's formula:

Where:

• \( CS \) — Child support amount
• \( I_A \) — Paying parent's income
• \( I_T \) — Combined parental income
• \( B \) — Basic obligation from guidelines table
• \( T \) — Time-sharing adjustment factor
• \( E \) — Child-related expenses paid directly

Note: The actual Florida guidelines use detailed tables for basic obligations and specific calculations for time-sharing adjustments.

3. Factors Affecting Support

Key Factors:

• Both parents' gross incomes
• Number of children
• Overnight time-sharing schedule
• Health insurance costs
• Child care expenses
• Extraordinary medical/educational expenses

4. Using the Calculator

Instructions: Enter combined monthly income, number of overnights the child spends with the other parent annually, and any direct expenses you pay for the child.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What's the income cap for calculations?
A: Florida currently uses $10,000/month combined income as the guideline cap, though courts may order higher amounts.

Q2: How does shared custody affect support?
A: Florida provides adjustments when the child spends at least 20% of overnights with each parent.

Q3: Are there minimum support amounts?
A: Yes, Florida has minimum support obligations even for low-income parents.

Q4: What if parents have very different incomes?
A: The income shares model proportionally divides obligations based on each parent's percentage of combined income.

Q5: Can support orders be modified?
A: Yes, with significant changes in circumstances (income, custody, etc.), either parent may petition for modification.