Is Child Support Awarded When Parents Get Equal Timesharing Rights?
It is common today to see parents end up with equal timesharing rights. When parents agree to an equal timesharing arrangement or the court awards equal timesharing rights, parents get to spend equal time with their children. Many people assume that child support will not be awarded when parents agree to an equal timesharing agreement or the court awards equal timesharing rights. But is this true? Is child support awarded when parents get equal timesharing rights? It is not true that when parents get equal timesharing rights, it means no child support award. Child support can be ordered even in cases where parents are awarded equal timesharing rights. In Florida, child support is not decided based solely on how much time the child spends with each parent.
Calculating Child Support in Florida
As stated already, in Florida, child support is not decided based solely on the amount of time each parent spends with the children. There are other factors the court considers when making child support decisions. So even when timesharing rights are split equally, one parent may still be required to pay the other parent child support.
Child support decisions in Florida are made based on the state’s guidelines. According to Florida law, both parents are legally obligated to support their children financially. Child support decisions in Florida are made based on how much time the child spends with each parent and each parent’s earnings. So, when timesharing rights are split equally, the factor that Florida courts will consider when determining child support is each parent’s income. If one parent earns less, there is a high chance the court will order the parent earning more to pay child support to the parent earning less.
Now, when parents who earn different incomes split timesharing 50/50, and the higher-earning parent pays for the child’s insurance and daycare expenses, and covers many other child-related expenses, the judge may decide not to order child support. Additionally, if both parents have the same resources, earn the same amount or almost the same amount of money, and equally divide child-related expenses, it is possible for the court to decide not to order any child support.
If you are going through a family law issue where child support is an issue, it is crucial that you enlist the help of a qualified family law attorney. You need to sit down with an experienced family law attorney and have them explain how the court makes child support decisions. You need to sit with an attorney and discuss the factors Florida courts consider when making child support decisions. It is important that you are armed with enough information before you start negotiations.
When Does Child Support End in Florida?
Normally, child support payments will end when a child turns eighteen. However, in some cases, Florida law allows child support payments to continue past a child’s 18th birthday. For example, if a child is still in high school by the time they turn eighteen, child support payments may continue until the child graduates from high school. Also, child support payments may be extended past nineteen years of age if a child has a disability or special needs.
Contact an Orlando Child Support Lawyer
If you have a child support issue and are looking for a qualified child support lawyer, contact our Orlando child support attorneys at the Arwani Law Firm today.
Source:
law.cornell.edu/wex/child_support
