Florida Child Support Calculator

1. How to Use the Calculator

To ensure the most accurate result, it is essential to understand how each piece of information you input is used in the official Florida calculation process.

1.1. Parent Information

Your calculator requires the Monthly Gross Income for both Parent 1 and Parent 2.

a. Gross Income (The Starting Point)

Florida law is comprehensive. “Gross Income” includes almost all forms of earned and unearned income, such as: salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, tips, self-employment income (minus reasonable business expenses), disability benefits, and passive income (e.g., rental income, royalties, and interest).

b. Net Income (The Calculator’s Internal Step)

The calculation requires Net Income. Internally, the calculator deducts mandatory expenses, such as federal, state, and local income taxes, mandatory union dues, and court-ordered child support from a previous relationship, to arrive at the Net Income figure.

This is the amount actually used in the Guidelines table.

1.2. Child Information

a. Number of Children

This references the specific column in the official Florida Guideline Schedule that determines the total “Basic Child Support Obligation” based on the parents’ combined net income.

b. Annual Overnights

This is one of the most critical inputs, especially in shared custody situations. You must enter the number of nights the child spends with each parent per year.

c. The 20% Rule

If the paying parent has the child for 73 or more overnights per year (20% of the year), the law requires the application of the “gross up” formula for shared custody. This formula increases the basic obligation by 50% (multiplied by 1.5) and then credits each parent for the proportion of time they spend with the child.

This adjustment recognizes the significant cost burden incurred by both parents in a shared time-sharing arrangement.

1.3. Additional Expenses

These expenses are legally required to be added to the basic support obligation and split proportionally between the parents.

Monthly Health Insurance Cost and Monthly Childcare Cost:

These are costs specifically for the child (or children) that are necessary for the parent’s employment or education.

The parent who pays these costs receives a credit for the payment, which is factored into the final amount to be paid or received.

2. Understanding the Law: Key Florida Child Support Questions

To properly establish authority and address the typical search journey, we must answer the most complex questions surrounding FL Child Support law.

2.1. How is Child Support in Florida Calculated?

Florida follows the Income Shares Model, codified in Florida Statute § 61.30.

This model is based on the principle that the child should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have if the parents were still living together. The four main steps are:

1. Determine Net Income: Calculate each parent’s net monthly income.
2. Determine Basic Obligation: Combine the net incomes and consult the statutory guidelines schedule to find the total Basic Child Support Obligation.
3. Allocate Obligation: Determine each parent’s pro-rata share of the obligation based on their percentage of the combined net income.
4. Adjustments: Apply adjustments for child-related expenses (insurance/childcare) and the Annual Overnights credit.

2.2. Do I Have to Pay Child Support if I Have 50/50 Custody in Florida?

Yes, in most cases.

The term “50/50 custody” (or equal time-sharing) addresses where the child spends their time, which is accounted for by the Annual Overnights input (73 or more). However, it does not typically eliminate support.

Even with an equal split of overnights, the parent with the higher net income will generally be required to pay the lower-earning parent.

This is because the payment balances the overall proportion of financial support to ensure the child’s financial needs are met equally in both households, aligning with the Income Shares Model.

A $0 payment is extremely rare and usually only occurs if both parents have virtually identical net incomes and share all costs equally.

2.3. What is the Maximum Age for Child Support in Florida?

Child support generally terminates when the child turns 18 years old.

However, there are two common and critical exceptions to this rule:

1. High School Students: If the child is still enrolled in high school and is reasonably expected to graduate, support continues until the date of graduation. Crucially, support cannot be ordered past the child’s 19th birthday, even if they are still in high school.
   
2. Special Needs: Child support can be ordered to continue indefinitely past the age of 18 if the child is mentally or physically dependent on their parents and incapable of self-support.

In cases involving multiple children, the court order will often include a “step-down” provision, which automatically reduces the support amount as each child turns 18 or graduates.

2.4. What is the Lowest Amount You Can Pay in Child Support?

There is no single, fixed minimum amount, but courts have specific limits on deviation.

The minimum amount is based on the lowest tier of the statutory Guideline Schedule relative to the parents’ combined income.

A judge must order an amount that is within 5% of the calculated guideline amount.

A judge can only order an amount that deviates more than 5% from the guideline if they provide a written finding explaining why the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate. This strict requirement ensures that the child’s basic needs are always met.

2.5. How to Legally Avoid Child Support in Florida?

TRUST WARNING: Child support is a legal obligation and is considered the right of the child, not the parent. Therefore, parents cannot legally waive the right to receive child support, and the paying parent cannot legally “avoid” the obligation.

The only legal paths to change the amount are:

• Modification: Filing a court petition demonstrating a substantial change in circumstances (e.g., job loss, disability, or a significant change in income, typically 15% or $50 difference from the current order).
  
• Termination: The obligation terminates only when the child reaches the age limit or, in very rare cases, if parental rights are terminated (which also ends all visitation rights).

3. Conclusion and Next Steps

By inputting your income, the number of overnights, and essential child expenses into this calculator, you receive a highly accurate estimate that mirrors the Florida Child Support Guidelines Worksheet.

If you are facing a divorce, modification, or paternity case, we strongly recommend you take this estimated amount and the following documents to a legal professional:

• Your last six months of pay stubs.
• Your most recent tax return (W-2s/1099s).
• Proof of health insurance and childcare costs.

Your next step should be to consult a licensed Florida Family Law Attorney to discuss your specific legal and financial circumstances.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides a precise estimate based on the official Florida Child Support Guidelines Worksheet variables. However, the result is an estimate only and should not be used as a final legal document. The legally binding amount of child support will be determined only by a Florida court order, the Department of Revenue (DOR), or a mediated settlement agreement.