When someone is supposed to pay child support, Florida residents are often involved in a divorce in which someone has kids that still need to be cared for after the separation process. Oftentimes when someone is going through a divorce and wants to pay adequately to help their child have the same quality of life as they did before the separation process, a person may be wondering how much money they are going to have to pay regularly. There is no universally accepted amount that all spouses have to pay for their children, but it is calculated in many ways depending on many factors of the marriage and lifestyle a family had prior to getting a divorce.

Completing Financial Affidavits of Income and Expenses

No court is going to be able to set a predetermined number that both spouses should be paying in child support. Florida residents should understand that child support is determined proportionally based off of financial affidavits that each individual is supposed to fill out accurately and honestly. The type of information that is included in these reports is not only income that someone makes, but also the amount of expenses that are being paid for. Income is not only the salary of some, but it can also include bonuses and conditions, as well as investments and other personal finances.

What if Someone Cannot Pay their Monthly Child Support Payments?

Financial affidavits are only initially useful to the process of calculating child support. Florida residents who are caught paying a monthly child support payment might come to a time when they are experiencing economic hardships. Maybe someone has just lost their job, and they are finding it difficult to pay the amount that was determined by the court. In these situations, someone may file for an adjustment or modification for the time being, but it is not something that is permanent. However, if someone is refusing to pay money for child support, they may have their income partially deducted over time to cover the costs. There are other ways that someone can have their pay taken and used for child support, such as during tax season.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Butash Law Group*