Under Florida law, courts and administrative agencies are required to base child support obligations on actual income during the relevant period and to attach necessary documentation to support their findings. If they fail to do so, any child support obligations they impose may be vacated, as demonstrated in a recent…
Articles Posted in Child Support
Florida Court Discusses Modifications of Marital Settlement Agreements.
Although Florida law anticipates that parents will provide financial support for their children, the obligation to do so typically ends when the children reach the age of majority. Parties are free to enter into agreements that enlarge their responsibilities, however, and dictate that they will provide support for education or…
Imputed Income in Child Support Actions Explained by Florida Court
Under Florida law, parents are expected to provide financial support for their children. As such, it is not uncommon for one parent to seek child support from their co-parent. When determining an appropriate support obligation in child support cases, the courts will look at, among other things, the party’s income.…
Florida Court Explains Grounds for Challenging a Final Judgment of Dissolution
In Florida divorce actions, the courts will typically issue judgments of dissolution establishing the parties’ rights and obligations with regard to disputed issues like child custody, spousal and child support, and property division. If a court fails to adequately demonstrate the reasoning behind its decision or neglects to take into…
Florida Court Discusses Retroactive Child Support Obligations
In Florida, parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support to their children. Typically, this obligation ends at eighteen. If a parent did not provide financial support for their child while the child was a minor, however, their co-parent may be able to recover retroactive support, even after the…
Florida Court Reverses Ruling Denying a Child Support Modification
Florida law dictates that parents must support their children financially. As such, in many instances in which parents share custody of a child, the Florida courts will order one parent to pay the other child support. In recognition of the fact that circumstances often change over time, the law permits…
Florida Court Examines the Defense of Laches in Child Support Cases
In Florida child support cases, it is unfortunately not uncommon for the parent obligated to pay support to fail to uphold their duties. If they do, they can be held in contempt. The party seeking a contempt order and arrearages must act in a timely manner, however, otherwise, they may…
Florida Court Discusses Contempt Penalties in Child Support Cases
In divorce actions involving children, it is not uncommon for the parties to come to an agreement regarding custody and child support. In most instances, such agreements are enforceable, and a party that fails to abide by the terms of their agreement may be held in contempt. As discussed in…
Florida Court Discusses Deviation from Child Support Guidelines
In Florida child support cases, the courts typically refer to statutory guidelines to determine what constitutes an appropriate obligation. While the courts are permitted to deviate from the guidelines, if they do so, they generally must demonstrate that the deviation is warranted. In a recent Florida opinion issued in a…
Court Examines Imputed Income in Florida Child Support Cases
Under Florida law, parents have a duty to provide financial support for their children. In the context of custody cases, this obligation is often the impetus for imposing a child support obligation. The courts determine what constitutes an appropriate amount of child support by analyzing numerous factors, including each parent’s…