Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support

Calculating child support in Florida requires knowledge of the parties’ incomes, the statutory deductions due to each parent, and certain expenses paid for the children such as daycare and health insurance. Findings regarding these matters must usually be contained in a final judgment. The case Buck v. Buck, 2D19-2824 (Fla. 2d DCA November 20, 2020) expounds on this.

The former wife appealed a final judgment which granted the former husband’s petition for modification of alimony and child support. The appellate court affirmed the final judgment on all aspects except one: the calculation of child support. It held “The amended final judgment included findings as to the parties' respective gross and net incomes, as well as deductions to those incomes, from which the court computed a modified child support obligation for [the former husband]. But as the Former Wife points out, it is impossible to determine from the record how the court arrived at the income figures or deductions it utilized, or what calculations it used to reach those figures. Without competent, substantial evidence to support the court's income findings, we are compelled to reverse the court's judgment with respect to those calculations.”

This information is usually required so that if another future request for modification is filed, the court has a baseline to follow and can be guided by the case history. Schedule a consultation with a Miami child support lawyer to understand how child support may be calculated in your case.