Weston, FL Child Support Attorneys

Providing for children is always expensive, but it is especially so in today’s economy. If you are a single parent, or you are getting divorced, you should not have to shoulder the monetary responsibility on your own! However, on the flip side, you also should not have to pay child support if you are not the parent. 

In the state of Florida, children have the right to financial support from both parents until they are eighteen years of age or until the child has graduated from high school if he or she is on track to graduate prior to reaching the age of nineteen. How much child support will be paid by each parent is dependent on the specific circumstances of the case. In order to ensure that your children receive the proper amount of child support from the other parent and that you are not overpaying in child support, it is imperative to have excellent legal representation. 

Our experienced Weston child support attorneys can help you protect your rights and your children’s future! Call today to schedule a consultation. 

How Is Child Support Calculated In Florida?

In Florida, both parents are legally obligated to contribute to the financial well-being of their children. Our state family courts generally follow the “Income Shares Model”; this can be complicated to understand, but essentially means that the courts will estimate the amount parents would have spend on their children if the parents were married and all parties lived in one household. This estimated amount will then be divided based on the parents’ incomes. This amount can also be affected by the number of overnights that the parents spend with the children, which parent is the primary custodial parent, and whether or not the children have extraordinary expenses related to their education, special needs, or medical needs. 

If child support is an issue in your divorce or custody (timesharing) case, you will likely be required to file and exchange a financial affidavit that verifies your income and then complete a Child Support Guidelines Worksheet to determine the correct amount. 

Modification And Enforcement

Whether you are seeking or fighting modification, or are trying to enforce or defend against support, our Weston child support attorneys will stand up for your interests and fight for fairness!

Just because child support is set does not mean it is set in stone! Children grow and change, and their financial needs grow and change with them; parents’ lives also change. In the event of the loss of a job, promotion, relocation, or other major life transition, the amount of child support paid by one or both parents may need to be adjusted. Either parent can seek this modification with the court. 

Note that some parents may try to avoid their obligation to pay child support by quitting their jobs, not working hard to find jobs, or taking lower-paying positions than they are qualified for. Florida courts are vehemently against this behavior and will punish it accordingly; a court can impute income to that parent. 

If one parent refuses to pay child support altogether, there is a system in place to force them to contribute – it can involve liens against their property and/or income deduction. However, if you are not the child’s parent, or your circumstances have changed, you should not be forced to pay child support and suffer these negative consequences of enforcement, and our attorneys can strategically defend your rights. 

The Benefits Of Mediation

Mediation is one option available to parents for resolving child support issues, and we strongly recommend it! It allows you and your co-parent to set the terms of child support together, rather than leaving it up to a judge who does not does not know you or your child. By working collaboratively, you can save time and money while establishing a plan for child support that works for all parties.

It is easy to allow your emotions to cloud your best judgment, which can keep you from making informed decisions and going about the process in the most efficient way. Our Weston child support attorneys can help you separate your feelings from the facts of your situation so that you can take a level-headed approach to creating an arrangement that is in the best interest of your children.

Call The Compassionate Weston Child Support Attorneys At Divorce & Mediation Law Firm | Cabanas Law Firm! 

If you are struggling to make ends meet for your children, and you are not getting the financial support that your children are legally entitled to, or if you are faced with paying more child support than is fair, call our firm. Divorce & Mediation Law Firm | Cabanas Law Firm is passionate about helping parents in South Florida navigate these family law and financial matters. We will take the time to get to know you, understand your situation, explain your legal rights and responsibilities, and answer any pressing questions you may have. Trust our Weston child support attorneys to put your children’s needs at the forefront of all that we do. Call Divorce & Mediation Law Firm | Cabanas Law Firm today to request a consultation and learn about your next steps.