Florida Child Support Guidelines

The Income Shares model follows these steps: 1. **Calculate each parent's net income** (gross minus taxes and certain deductions) 2. **Combine both parents' net incomes** 3. **Look up the base support amount** in the guidelines table based on combined income and number of children 4. **Add healthcare, childcare, and other allowable costs** 5. **Divide responsibility** based on each parent's percentage of combined income 6. **Apply time-sharing credit** if applicable The parent with less time-sharing generally pays the calculated amount to the other parent.

Because Florida has no state income tax, your net income for child support purposes will be higher than in states with income tax. **Example comparison**: - $100,000 gross income in Florida → approximately $75,000 net - $100,000 gross income in California → approximately $65,000 net This means Florida child support amounts tend to be higher than in states with similar incomes but state income taxes. If you're relocating from a state with income tax, expect support calculations to change.

Florida's guidelines include a time-sharing adjustment that can significantly affect the support amount: **Under 20% overnight time-sharing**: No adjustment — standard calculation applies **20% or more overnight time-sharing**: A formula adjusts support to account for the increased expenses of the parent with more time **At or near 50/50**: Support may be minimal or even zero if incomes are similar, since each parent covers the child's expenses during their time The overnight calculation uses 365 nights as the baseline.

On top of the guideline amount, parents share these costs: **Health insurance**: The cost of adding the child to a parent's policy **Childcare**: Work-related or education-related childcare **Non-covered medical expenses**: Out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision costs **Other allowable expenses**: May include private school tuition, special needs expenses, or travel costs for visitation These are typically divided in proportion to income — if you earn 60% of combined income, you pay 60% of these expenses.