Child Support
Child Support in Tampa
Child support is court-ordered payments to support one’s minor child(ren). Child support is the child’s right, not the right of the parents. Therefore, judges view child support as something that is not open to negotiation in a divorce. In most situations, the amount is determined by the Florida child support guidelines. However, if a parent is paying for other expenses like travel or extra-curricular activities, a judge may allow a deviation from the guideline amount. In Florida, child support is ordered until a child turns 18 and graduates from high school. But if a child has special needs, child support may be extended beyond the age of 18. Once a child reaches 18, the child support amount is reduced to reflect the appropriate amount for the remaining children. If a party fails to pay court-ordered child support, his/her license may be suspended, among other sanctions.
Florida Child Support Lawyers
When it comes to child support, there are many potential issues. Some parents lie about their incomes or hide important financial documents with the hopes of paying less child support. Other parents refuse to pay child support, creating issues of contempt arrearages. Let the attorneys of Open Palm Law help you to receive or pay the appropriate amount of child support your children deserve.
FAQs for Child Support
How is child support determined?
Child support is determined based on the Florida child support guidelines. Information regarding both parties’ monthly net incomes, contributions to daycare and the children’s health insurance, and the amount of overnights each parent has per year is entered onto a worksheet to compute the appropriate amount.
Can we agree that there will be no child support paid or that less than the guideline amount will be paid?
If you and your spouse make such an agreement, the court will closely review the matter to be certain that your agreement will adequately meet the needs of the child. Most likely, the judge will order that child support be pursuant to the statute, but there are certain circumstances when a judge orders otherwise if a spouse is contributing financially in some other way.
If my spouse stops paying child support, can I stop him/her from seeing the kids?
No. Child support and child custody are two separate issues. It is in the best interest of children to have a relationship with both parents. If your spouse is not paying child support, you will need to take him/her to court to resolve the matter.
If my spouse won’t let me see the kids, can I stop paying child support?
No. Child custody and child support are two separate issues. Child support is the right of the child. If your spouse is denying you time with your children, you will need to take him/her to court to resolve the matter.
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“Joryn was simply amazing. Her supporting, consistent, honest, and most importantly – productive – approach was exactly what I needed to get through the process. A court trial was imminent if we did not have a successful mediation (the third one!), and no other attorney was able to focus the entire team like Joryn.”Danielle, January 2016
ABOUT JORYN
JORYN JENKINS | FOUNDING PARTNER,
TRIAL ATTORNEY, COLLABORATIVE ATTORNEY
Open Palm in Tampa, Florida is proud to present our firm’s founder, Joryn Jenkins. Please take a moment to read about her qualifications to assist you. We also invite you to view her resume.
In the beginning, Ms. Jenkins worked for one of the ten largest law firms in the country in its Washington, D.C. office. After nearly three years practicing in all aspects of regulatory law, she took a break from big firm life to work exclusively for one of her own clients on a class action involving more than fifty sex discrimination claims in California. When she returned to the East Coast, she accepted an offer from the state attorney in Tampa, E.J. Salcines (now an appellate judge). CONTINUE READING…
