Basic Child Support Calculation
Parents worry about providing for their children. When splitting one household into two, the issue of child support can become heated. Considering that when divorcing, parents go from possibly sharing two incomes to trying to subsist on one, dealing with the financial ramifications of divorce can cause even the most even-keeled person to feel a great deal of stress. If requesting child support, it helps to have a fundamental understanding of how the state reaches a determination on how much a parent has to pay. Consider some of the basics of child support calculation in the Sunshine State.
The Income of the Parents
Many states base their child support calculation on a shared income philosophy. In doing this, the state assumes how much the parents would spend on their children should they continue to live together. The state takes the income of each party and delegates an amount of this essential support to each one. The share of child support each must pay depends on the amount each earns.
The state figures this by calculating each individual’s net monthly income and adding them together. Then, based on the number of children, there is a basic child support requirement. This is then split based on each parent’s proportionate share of income. For instance, if one parent nets $6,500 a month and the other $3,500, the primary obligation is split 65% to one and 35% to the other.
Other Factors in Child Support Calculation
Once the support amount of each parent gets calculated, the state begins to factor in other elements. Some of these other elements include the following:
- Health insurance
- Medical expenses (not covered by insurance)
- Daycare
Each parent’s actual monthly contribution to the above is taken from their net income. The final element that determines the support payment amount is the number of nights a child spends with each parent. The more equal the amount of time spent with each parent, the less child support one parent will have to pay to the other. For example, if the higher earner spends 180 nights with the child while the lower earner spends 185, the higher earner will pay approximately $300 to the other parent for one child.
State courts do not just go by the calculation sheet. There are other circumstances that the court may consider when setting child support. If you want a deviation from the support amount for any reason, you may have to get in contact with a child support lawyer from a law firm like The McKinney Law Group for more help on understanding child support calculation. Take the time today to learn more about the team at The McKinney Law Group.
