In Florida dissolution proceedings involving minor children, accurate and internally consistent child support calculations are essential. The Florida Child Support Guidelines, codified in a section of the Florida Statutes, mandate a structured approach based on each party’s income and time-sharing responsibilities. If a court fails to comply with such guidelines when issuing a support order, there may be grounds for seeking review, as demonstrated in a recent Florida ruling. If you have questions about your rights or obligations with regard to child support, you should consult a Miami family law attorney as soon as possible.
History of the Case
It is reported that the parties participated in a four-day bench trial concerning the dissolution of their marriage and the establishment of child support obligations for their two minor children. The trial court’s final judgment dissolved the marriage, incorporated the parties’ marital settlement agreement, and adopted a parenting plan. As part of the judgment, the trial court ordered the father to pay the mother approximately $400.00 per month in child support until April 1, 2027, at which point the obligation would be reduced to approximately $150.00 per month for the support of one child.
It is alleged that the trial court attached a Child Support Guidelines worksheet to the judgment as required by Florida law. However, the figures in the attached worksheet conflicted with the child support amounts detailed in the final order. Specifically, it is reported that the worksheet table listed the father’s monthly obligation as approximately $150.00 for two children until April 1, 2027, after which it increased to approximately $400.00 for one child until March 30, 2033. This directly contradicted the amounts stated in the final judgment, effectively inverting the payment schedule. Continue reading ›