How are Child Support Awards Determined?

In the state of Florida, a child support order tells a parent exactly what he or she must do to support his or her child. The amount of the child support order that is awarded will always be based upon the laws of the state and the state's child support guidelines, which are used to make sure that payment amounts are fair.

Generally, the state of Florida will consider the following factors and guidelines before determining the amount of a child support order:

• Income of both parents
• Children's health and health needs
• Children's standard needs

After considering these guidelines, the court will decide upon the amount of child support a parent has to pay. It is important to note that in some cases, the amount of child support awarded may be higher or lower than the state's established guidelines. For example, if a child has special needs, the child support amount that is awarded may be higher.

If you would like to get an estimate of how much child support you will have to pay or will receive, you should speak with a Jacksonville family law attorney. Contact our firm today to set up an initial case evaluation.