What Is The Average Child Support Payment In Brandon?
All parents in Brandon, and throughout Florida, are expected to support their children financially until the child turns 18 years old. In some cases, child support can be extended until the child turns 19 years old, if they are still in high school when they turn 18. When parents get a divorce, a judge will likely order one parent to pay child support to the other parent. Typically, the parent who spends the majority of the time with the child receives the support.
If you believe that you will have to pay child support after divorce, it is natural to wonder how much you will be ordered to pay. No one can answer this question for you until they have fully reviewed the facts of your case. However, Florida law does outline some guidelines you can use to determine how much child support you may be required to pay.
Factors Considered when Determining Child Support Amounts
The family courts in Florida take many factors into consideration when determining child support amounts. These include the net income of both parents, the child’s current educational and healthcare needs, and the needs of the child moving forward. The net income of the parents, or the income remaining after taxes and deductions are made, is combined and compared to a chart outlined in the Florida Statutes to determine the amount of child support that is necessary.
For example, when the combined total net income is $5,000 and the parents have one child, the chart outlines a monthly payment of $1,000 in child support. If the same couple has two children together, the amount of support increases to $1,551. If the same couple has three children together, child support increases to $1,939.
Although the guidelines outlined in the law seem fairly straightforward, there are times when a court may deviate from them.
Other Factors that Affect Child Support
There are times when using the legal child support guidelines does not work. For example, while the combined income of the parents may be $5,000, one parent may earn $4,000 of that amount. Ordering the other parent to pay $1,000, or their entire income, is not practical. In these cases, a judge would likely order a smaller amount to be paid. If, on the other hand, the parent paying support earns a much higher income, the judge may order them to pay more in support.
Even after the amount of child support has been determined, the court still has the discretion and authority to change it. A judge may consider:
- The age of the child
- Any need to accommodate a child’s disability
- The medical and psychological needs of the child
- Any income the child earns
- Regular changes to a parent’s income, such as when they are in seasonal work
Call Our Child Support Attorney in Brandon for a Consultation
If you are going through a divorce and child support will be an issue, you need sound legal advice. At Koether Law, P.A., our Brandon child support attorney can answer all of your questions and help you obtain the best outcome possible. Call us now at 813-347-8193 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/0061.html
flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2012/61.30
