One of the first questions that divorcing couples in the Sunshine State ask is, “How much is child support in Florida?” This Florida Child Support Calculator is for high income parents (whose combined income exceeds $10,000/month). For parents whose combined monthly income is lower, a different calculator is required.* Keep in mind that any calculator for child support in Florida must take into consideration the number of overnights the children spend with each parent in order to provide a correct support amount.
The base child support is calculated as follows:
- Add together the parents' net annual income.
- Review the chart reflected in Florida Statute 61.30. The base child support is listed in the corresponding column of parents' combined income + number of children.
Added to the base child support is the cost of child care, and the cost of health insurance. Each parent is to pay a pro-rata portion (percentage share) of those expenses. Each parent’s percentage share of the child support is calculated by dividing each parent’s net monthly income by the combined net monthly income.
If the children spend at least 20% of their time with each parent, then the child support calculation is adjusted to reflect the fact that each parent will be financially contributing to the children's care during their timesharing.
A full explanation of child support calculations in Florida can be found in Florida Statute 61.30.
Please note that child support is calculated using a statutory formula, which means that its amount is regulated by law. The calculation is fairly cut and dried and objective, so not much negotiation is possible (unlike alimony, which is very subjective and negotiable).
The reason that we maintain a child support calculator on our Web site is for the convenience of our coparenting coaching clients, so that they can use it to reach agreement, rather than argue back and forth in mediation or in court.
To determine child support in Florida, complete the following steps:
1). Calculate the monthly income for each parent. The income for child support purposes is determined by taking the parent’s gross monthly income (income derived from all sources, including salary, bonuses, disability benefits, alimony, etc.), and subtracting the following:
Income taxes (a quick estimate of these can be found here. Don’t forget to correctly identify your marital status and allowances you are claiming).
Federal insurance contributions or self-employment tax
Medicare payments
Mandatory union dues
Mandatory retirement payments
Health/dental insurance payments for the parent
Court-ordered child support payments for children born from other relationships
Court-ordered alimony payments
2). Determine the number of overnights the child(ren) spend with each parent per calendar year, as per the established parenting plan. (A sample parenting plan can be found here.) Enter the father’s number of overnights.
3). Enter the monthly daycare and health insurance costs for the child(ren).
4). Enter the monthly amounts paid by the mother and the father for the daycare and health insurance for the child(ren).
As you can see, determining child support in Florida is a fairly straightforward process. A statutory formula is used, based on each parent’s income (minus deductions), and the amount of timesharing during the year (based on overnights) each parent has with the child(ren). After the base child support amount is determined, each parent’s pro rata responsibility for the child(ren)’s daycare and health insurance expenses is calculated.
In order to file child support with a Florida court, a child support guidelines worksheet is required. This form must be filed for initial establishment of child support, as well as for any modifications. Either parent can request a child support modification any time the monthly amount to be paid would change by $50, or 15%, whichever is higher.
Please consult the Florida Statutes for a full description of child support calculations, as well as shared parenting after divorce.
I have my child 50% of the time, so I don’t have to pay child support …. right?
Wrong. Child support in Florida is designed to ensure that a children receive the level of financial support that their parents can afford in combination. The idea is that the child should not suffer because of a divorce (or because the parents never married). Toward that end, Florida has established a statutory formula, taking into consideration the number of overnights the child spends at each home, and a pro-rata cost sharing of the high ticket items of health insurance and daycare. In general, this means that the higher-earning parent pays child support to the lower-earning parent.
What is the standard child support guideline amount?
The standard child support guideline amount is calculated by determining the combined net income of the parents (minus allowable deductions), and the number of children. This basic obligation does not take into consideration the number of overnights spent with each parent, as it assumes that there is one residential parent (where the child lives) and one nonresidential parent (who visits the child).
What is the “gross up formula”?
When the child will spend a “substantial amount of time with each parent” (meaning at least 20% of the overnights in a calendar year), the statute sets out a different formula for establishing the minimum child support guideline amount. This formula, sometimes called the “substantial time approach,” takes into consideration that each parent is supporting the child and incurring expenses by providing care during those overnights.
Why does this child support calculator give me different numbers than other Florida calculators I see online?
For higher-earning parents, an additional presumption of support need exists. If the parents’ combined monthly net income exceeds $10,000, the amount of income over $10,000 is multiplied by a percentage based on the number of children, and added to the base amount. For this, one child is 5%, two is 7.5%, three is 9.5%, four is 11%, five is 12%, and six is 12.5%. Most other calculators do not take this into consideration.
If you are having trouble …
If you are struggling with coming to an agreement with your coparent about the correct child support amount, the quickest way to resolve it may be to consult with a coparenting or divorce coach. Your coach will be able to refer you to a financial neutral for consultation, if necessary, and/or refer you to a family mediator, if necessary. Using a collaborative process — rather than going to court — to reach agreements can often save a great deal of time and money. Most importantly, collaborating with your child’s other parent can prevent animosity between the parents, which results in less tension and less chance for the children to be pulled in the middle of parental conflict.
Other resources for Florida parents divorcing or separating with children:
A coach can assist parents in learning to work together collaboratively to raise their shared child -- in spite of anything that has happened in the past, and regardless of the anger, resentment and other uncomfortable feelings that may exist between the parents.
Coparenting coaching works best when both parents are committed to the process of working together on behalf of their children. However, coaching can also be very effective even if only one parent wishes to participate.
Here is a sample 50/50 parenting plan / timesharing agreement for equal, 50/50 custody in Florida.
Marital settlement agreement
A Florida marital settlement agreement is a contract that sets forth the terms agreed upon by a couple as it relates to their rights and responsibilities after divorce. Settlement agreements may contain any number of conditions for separation, including alimony, child support, parental obligations, and the division of the couple’s assets and liabilities. Here is the Marital Settlement Agreement For Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children
The Florida Putative Father Registry
The purpose of the Florida Putative Father Registry is to allow a man who believes himself to be the father of a child, who is not married to the child’s mother, to claim paternity rights and responsibilities with regard to a specific child. Time is of the essence in registering, and it is generally recommended that the putative father file his claim of paternity before the child is born.
Florida State Court System's Self-Help Center
In Florida, divorcing parents (or separating parents) who wish to avoid the adversarial nature of Florida Family Court may opt to work together to calculate child support, determine custody and time sharing, and make other decisions in the best interest of their shared children. These parents may still preserve their rights under the law by filing a mediated parenting plan and/or a mediated child support agreement with the court. DYI Florida is a resource that helps you create legal documents by answering simple, specific questions about your situation. These legal documents can then be filed electronically through the e-portal. You can use this source to petition for divorce, request a marital settlement agreement, answer a petition, and many other tasks.Video tutorials for Florida Self-Represented (pro se) Litigants are available as a resource.
*This calculator uses the “gross up method” of Florida child support calculations, which assumes that each child is spending a “substantial amount of time with each parent.” Florida Statutes define “substantial amount of time” as at least 20% of overnights in a calendar year.
© Florida Family Options, Inc, 2019
Disclaimer: Use of this calculator, or of any information or materials on this web site, are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use of and access to this Web site or any of the e-mail links contained within the site do not create a professional relationship between Florida Family Options and the user or browser.