• Home
•   ›  
• Family Law
•   ›  
• Child Support

Child Support

Both parents are expected to share financial responsibility for minor children. When parents are divorced or unmarried one parent is generally required to child support.
Child support refers to regular payments paid to the parent with whom the child primarily resides to cover child related expenses.

Common expenses child support is used to cover include the following:

• Daycare and childcare;
• Clothing;
• Food;
• Transportation; and
• Other necessary expenses

Generally, child support must be paid until the child reaches 18 years of age; however, the age can be extended under certain circumstances.

It is important to consult an experienced family law attorney with any child support issues, including initiating child support, modifying child support, and collecting unpaid child support payments.

West Palm Beach Child Support Lawyers

The attorneys of Quality Family Law understand the important role your child has in your life. Like most parents, you want to ensure they are provided for both emotionally and financially.

Dedicated exclusively to the practice of family law, the family law division of Quality Family Law will provide sound legal advice regarding all family law matters, including child custody or time-sharing, child support, paternity, and domestic violence.

Quality Family Law skillfully represents individuals and families throughout Florida, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and surrounding areas. Contact the family law attorneys of Quality Family Law at (561) 557-8686 or submit an online form for a confidential consultation.

Florida Child Support Information Center

• How is child support calculated in Florida?
• Can child support be extended?
• Can child support be modified?
• Where can I learn more about child support in Florida?

Back to top

Calculating Child Support

The amount and duration of a child support obligation may be determined by a mutual agreement of the parents or the court. The court makes the determination when the parents are unable to agree or the agreement is not in the best interest of the child.

When calculating child support the court uses the child support guidelines listed in Florida Stat. §61.30.  The court may deviate from the guidelines upon consideration of the following factors:

• Needs of the child(ren);
• Age;
• Station of life of each parent;
• Standard of living of each parent;
• Financial status of each parent; and/or
• Ability of each parent

The chart above is non-exhaustive. For the complete child support guidelines, please see Florida Stat. § 61.30 and consult an experienced child support lawyer.

Back to top

Extension of Child Support

Under Florida law child support terminates when the child reaches 18 years of age. However, child support may be extended past the age of 18 under specific circumstances, including high school attendance and physical or mental incapacity.

Attendance in High School

Florida Stat.§ 743.07(2) allows child support to be extended until graduation from high school, up to age 19, if the minor child is still in high school and performing in good faith with a reasonable expectation of graduation before the age of 19.

Physical or Mental Incapacity

The court may order child support be extended past age 18 if the child has a mental or physical incapacity and is unable to financially support him or herself.  The incapacity must have started before the child reached age 18.

Back to top

Modification of Child Support

The court may grant a modification or change in child support obligation in the following instances:

• There is a substantial change in circumstance since the entering of the child support order; or
• There is a difference of 15 percent or $50, whichever is greater, between the ordered child support obligation and the figure listed in the child support guidelines.

Substantial Change in Circumstances
Florida law stipulates that a change in income of 15 percent or $50, whichever is greater, is sufficient to constitute a substantial change in circumstances. However, other circumstances may change, which warrant a modification of the child support obligation, including but not limited to the following:

• Changes in needs of the child (i.e. increased medical needs, etc.);
• Changes in expenses (i.e. daycare, educational expenses, etc.)
• Changes in income of either parent
• Changes in work schedule or employment arrangement

A substantial change in circumstances is a fact intensive determination. It is important to consult an experienced child support lawyer to prepare the strongest case for modification based on your unique circumstances.

Back to top

Florida Child Support Resources

Florida Statutes ǀ Child Support- Read the full text of the Florida laws that apply to child support, child custody, and visitation.

Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Services- Access information, including child support payment center, child health insurance, child support enforcement, and tax credits, on the Florida Department of Revenue website.

West Palm Beach Office Location
881 S. Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406-4118
Phone: (800) 622-5437

Palm Beach County Unified Family Court- Access information about child support in Florida, including online child support payments and child support enforcement, on the Palm Beach County Unified Family Court.
West Palm Beach (Main) Courthouse
205 N. Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2996
Email:  clerkweb@mypalmbeachclerk.com

Back to top

Quality Family Law ǀ Palm Beach County Child Support Attorneys

The Palm Beach County lawyers of Quality Family Law represent clients in all family law matters, including divorce, child support, child custody, establishing paternity, and alimony. Quality Family Law represent clients throughout Pam Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, and the surrounding communities.

Contact the team of attorneys of Quality Family Law at (561) 557-8686 or submit an online form to schedule a confidential consultation.

Back to top