How To Prove Income For Child Support And Alimony In Florida
When getting divorced, both partners are required to provide their financial information to ensure that the court can award an appropriate amount of alimony and child support. One of the financial information is each spouse’s income.
If you are going through a divorce in Florida, you may wonder how you and your spouse can prove income for child support and alimony calculations. Consult with an Orlando family lawyer if you need help with proving your income or believe that your spouse is hiding income or assets.
What is Considered Income for Child Support and Alimony Calculations?
For the purpose of calculating child support and alimony, Florida courts consider funds that come from any source as “income.” The following funds are treated as income when determining the appropriate amount of child support and alimony:
- Wages
- Commissions
- Gifts
- Overtime pay
- Benefits
- Interest dividends
- Grants
- Winnings
- Annuities
Florida courts use spouses’ gross income for the purpose of calculating child support and alimony. It means that the court will subtract all state, local, and federal taxes to arrive at the figure that will be used to determine the appropriate support payment.
Filing a Financial Affidavit in a Florida Divorce
Financial Affidavits play a pivotal role in child support and alimony calculations in a Florida divorce. When determining child support or alimony, both parties are required to file a Financial Affidavit, which is a sworn statement of the spouses’ income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.
It is advisable to seek the legal counsel of an attorney when filing a Financial Affidavit. Your attorney will consider all pertinent facts when helping you fill out your Financial Affidavit to make sure that the document reflects your financial situation.
How Can You Prove Your Income in a Divorce?
Documentation is important to prove spouses’ income in a divorce. For this reason, you may need paystubs and bank statements to prove how much you earn.
In addition to paystubs and bank statements, you need to collect bills and receipts to prove your living expenses and liabilities. It means that you will have to show how you spent your money before and during the divorce.
Some people end up facing accusations of wasteful dissipation of marital assets when they voluntarily show their bills and receipts. Generally, it is not advisable to make big purchases shortly before or during the divorce to avoid accusations of wasteful dissipation.
Consult with a skilled attorney to find out everything you need to know about the process of proving your income and expenses during a divorce in Florida.
Is Your Spouse Underreporting or Hiding Income?
If you believe that your soon-to-be-ex-spouse is underreporting or hiding income, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer. Proving how much your spouse actually earns can be a tricky matter, which is why it is advisable to contact an attorney.
If your spouse is reporting less income than they earn, they may also be hiding marital assets from you. Talk to our Orlando family lawyer Rania Arwani to discuss your situation. Call 407-254-0060.