How is child support calculated by the Florida Child Support Calculator?

Married couples who are separating generally ask two most common questions frequently. These questions are "How much child support will I have to pay?" and "How much child support will I receive?" In order to help answer these questions, the Florida child support calculator was created. However, one should remember that these calculators are only for information and educational purposes only.

This is because the amount of the child support, a judge may order for a particular case of separation or divorce may be different from the amount that may be estimated by the calculator. Generally, while using these calculators, it is assumed that all the dependent children will primarily live with only one parent. If there is a joint physical custody or split custody of the children, then the help of the calculator cannot be taken. Also these calculators do not take into account any adjustments that may be possible for the children who are not subject to the custody order, but are living with one of the parent's all the same.

Therefore all these factors as well as others may totally affect a child support order issued by a court. So for most of the time these calculators will assume that all the children shall primarily and actually stay and live with only one parent. As a matter of fact, calculation of child support in Florida is always based on the income of both the parents. Expenses that have been made or may be made in future, do not affect the calculation of the support amount. However, exceptions are made, when there are reductions based on other children you support, medical expenses of the concerned party who has to make the payment and other expenses that are made, or to be made under extraordinary circumstances.

With these exceptions, you are bound to pay the amount that has been calculated as per the standard Florida guidelines. While assuming the income that will be used to calculate the payment of the child support by the Florida child support calculator , the amount of income that will remain after taking out the alimony amount, will be taken into account.

Therefore alimony payments made will also reduce the amount of child support.

While calculating the income, only the income of the parents is taken for calculating purposes. Child support can also be modified to an extent. This happens whenever the income changes. In such cases the child support has to be recalculated and modified accordingly.

In accordance to the rules, you are allowed to file for a modification, whenever child support would change by $50 or by 15%. For using the calculator, you have to press the calculator tab and then calculate how much basic child support will be for each parent.

While calculating the child support, the court has to take many factors into consideration, for example:

-What is the gross income of each parent?

-What are the deductions that can be allowed?

-The time sharing arrangements of the child for both the parents should also be considered.

-Are there any deviations from child support?