Florida calculates child support using an “income shares” formula under Florida Statute 61.30. Both parents’ net monthly incomes are combined and matched to a statutory guidelines table to find the basic support amount, which is then divided between the parents in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined income.

The Income Shares Model, Step by Step

Florida’s guiding principle is that a child should receive the same share of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together. The court follows a fixed sequence:

Step 1 — Determine each parent’s net monthly income. Gross income includes salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, overtime, tips, self-employment income, disability and workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment, pensions, Social Security, alimony received, interest, dividends, and rental income. From gross income, each parent deducts income taxes, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), mandatory union dues, mandatory retirement contributions, health insurance premiums (excluding the child’s coverage), and court-ordered support actually paid for other children.

Step 2 — Combine the two net incomes and look up the “basic child support obligation” on the guidelines table in Statute 61.30(6). For example, at $6,000 in combined monthly net income, the table sets the basic obligation at $1,121 for one child and $1,737 for two children.

Step 3 — Split the obligation proportionally. If one parent earns 60% of the combined net income, that parent is responsible for 60% of the support obligation.

Step 4 — Add child care and health insurance. Work- or education-related child care costs and the child’s health insurance premiums are added on top of the basic obligation and allocated in the same proportions.

How Time-Sharing Changes the Number

The number of overnights matters — a lot. When each parent has the child at least 20% of the overnights per year (73 or more nights), Florida applies the “substantial time-sharing” formula: the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each parent’s share is cross-multiplied by the other parent’s percentage of overnights, and the difference becomes the transfer payment. In practice, the more overnights the paying parent has, the lower the payment — which is one reason time-sharing schedules are negotiated so carefully. Since Florida adopted a rebuttable presumption of 50/50 time-sharing in 2023, this adjusted formula applies in many more cases.

Can the Court Order More or Less Than the Guideline?

Yes, within limits. A judge may adjust the guideline amount up or down by 5% after considering factors like the child’s age, standard of living, and each parent’s financial status. Any deviation beyond 5% requires written findings explaining why the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate. Recognized deviation factors include extraordinary medical or educational expenses, a child’s special needs, seasonal income variations, and an obligation that would exceed 55% of the paying parent’s gross income.

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court can impute income — calculating support based on what that parent could earn given their work history and qualifications, not what they actually earn.

How Long Support Lasts and When It Can Change

Child support in Florida generally runs until the child turns 18, or until high school graduation (no later than 19) if the child is still enrolled and on track to graduate. An existing order can be modified when circumstances change substantially — the guideline recalculation must differ from the current order by at least 15% or $50, whichever is greater. Courts can also award retroactive support for up to 24 months before the petition was filed.

Child Support in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade child support cases are handled by the Family Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, with filings through the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. Every petition must include a completed financial affidavit and child support guidelines worksheet — errors in these forms are one of the most common reasons Miami support orders come out wrong, especially with self-employment or seasonal income, which is common here. Arturo R. Alfonso P.A. has served Miami-Dade families in English and Spanish for over 35 years and can run an accurate guidelines calculation for your specific situation, including time-sharing adjustments. If you’ve been searching for a child support lawyer near me in Miami, we’re ready to help.

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