How is child support determined?

The Florida legislature enacted and established the minimum levels of child support in Chapter 61 of Florida Statutes.  The minimum levels establish guidelines for awards of child support based on the parties combined  income. This is known as the "Child Support Guideline"

To calculate the minimum amount of child support to be paid by a parent, the law directs the judge to first add up the total net monthly incomes of both parents. Then, the judge has to compute the percentage of that income that is being earned by the non- custodial parent. Then that percentage is multiplied by the applicable amount of health insurance, daycare expenses, if any, for the number of children in the household. The result of this calculation is the monthly child support.

The guideline is based on a complicated mathematical formula. In fact, computer programs are generally utilized to calculate an verify child support under the guideline.

There are other factors that relate to the amount of child support, including but not limited to,  the amount of overnights with the non-custodial parent.