Category: Child Support

woman looking up the uniform interstate family support act

What Is the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)?

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If you have been ordered by a court of a certain state, and then you move to a different state, you will still be required to comply with the court order from the original state. This is just one of many implications of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). It is an important piece of legislation; a uniform act drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in the U.S. Here, we will discuss what exactly the UIFSA is and some of its implications.

What is the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)?

The UIFSA accomplishes several objectives. Effectively, the Act gives a state “long-arm” jurisdiction over a child support debtor even where the debtor is a nonresident. The general rule is that a court has jurisdiction over residents, but UIFSA provides an exception. The UIFSA is the go-to piece of legislation to determine jurisdiction and power of courts in different states when more than one state is involved in either the establishment, modification, or enforcement of a child support, or spouse support, order. Furthermore, the UIFSA dictates which state’s laws will apply in proceedings pursuant to the act. This can make a big difference as there can be a range of differences in the laws of various states.

When a state puts a child support order in place, it is said to retain “continuing exclusive jurisdiction.” This is true as long as one of the parties to the order continues to reside in that state or if both parties agree to transfer jurisdiction to another state. This state will be the only state-authorized to modify the original child support award. This makes it set that there will only be one support order in effect at any given time.

In child support modification proceedings, there may be questions about which state’s laws will apply. Pursuant to the UIFSA, the laws of the state with “continuing exclusive jurisdiction” will apply. As previously stated, this will be the state that put the original child support order into effect unless both parties agreed to transfer jurisdiction to another state or if neither parent nor the child lives in that state anymore. It should be noted, however, that the laws of the enforcing state will apply for purposes of enforcement proceedings.

Once established, a child support order can be sent to any other UIFSA state and be registered there. Registering the order in another state will permit the authorities of that state to enforce the order. Registration, however, will not grant that state any authority regarding modification of the order.

Florida Family Law Attorneys

Jurisdictional issues can be complicated, but can also have significant impacts on your family law case. For jurisdictional questions or concerns, talk to the knowledgeable team of family law attorneys at Orlando Family Team. We are here to answer your questions and provide you with sound legal counsel. Contact us today.

What Is the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)?

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When it comes to family law matters, there are both federal and state laws at play. The intersection and overlap of these laws, in addition to the laws themselves, can be incredibly complex and difficult to navigate, and yet they address critical matters that will likely come into play should you need to do something such as establish or modify a child support order. The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) is one such important federal law that will be relevant to your case.

The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)

Drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in the U.S., the UIFSA is a uniform act that places limits on the jurisdiction empowered to establish and modify child support orders, as well as take steps towards the enforcement of child support obligations within the U.S.. As an aside, jurisdiction refers to a court of law’s official power to render legal decisions and judgments relating to a particular case. Without jurisdiction, a court is not authorized to make binding legal judgments over certain matters.

Every state in the U.S. has either opted to adopt the 1996 version of the UIFSA or a later version. The UIFSA is implemented every time more than one state is involved in the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a child or spousal support order in order to determine the jurisdiction and legal authority of the courts in the different states. Furthermore, the UIFSA is utilized in order to determine which state’s law will be applied to the proceedings. This can be critical as there can be many significant differences in child support laws between different states.

The UIFSA also provides for various methods of direct interstate enforcement of child support. It grants a custodial parent the ability to have an order mailed to the obligor parent’s employer requiring the employer to withhold payment for the benefit of the child. It also provides for the custodial parent to have an order mailed to an out-of-state court in order to have the other state enforce the child support order.

There are other various provisions of the UIFSA, including those providing for issues incidental to paternity. The UIFSA also requires that each state establish Child Support Guidelines. Such guidelines are to be used by court and state child enforcement agencies in order to determine the amount a non-custodial parent is obligated to pay to the custodial parent to support the child. Child support guidelines should consider a few important things, such as:

  • The needs of the child
  • The present and future well-being of the child
  • Other dependents
  • The non-custodial parent’s ability to pay

Florida Family Law Attorneys

For help unraveling the complex laws involved in your family law case, talk to the knowledgeable attorneys at Orlando Family Team. We will walk you through these laws and their relevance as well as protect your best interests. Contact us today.

woman receiving child support money

Why Would the Department of Revenue Bring a Child Support Action?

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While a private party may take steps to enforce a child support order through filing a child support action in court, it is not uncommon for the Department of Revenue to seek child support payments. There are several reasons why the Department of Revenue would bring a child support action. Should you find yourself on the other side of a Department of Revenue child support action, beware of the range of enforcement mechanisms at the disposal of the Department of Revenue.

When the Department of Revenue Brings a Child Support Action

There are different categories of Florida child support orders. One such category is Title IV-D child support orders. The Florida Department of Revenue is tasked with enforcing these orders. The specific circumstances of a situation will dictate which category a certain child support case falls into. Title IV-D cases include those where the custodial parent who is entitled to receiving child support requests or receives assistance from the Florida Department of Revenue in an attempt to collect owed child support payments from the obligor parent.

The most common reason the Florida Department of Revenue would bring a child support action is when the custodial parent is the recipient of state benefits, or public assistance, such as Medicaid and food stamps. The Department of Revenue gets involved in these types of cases because many parents must look to receiving government benefits when they fail to receive the child support payments they are owed. Payments from the obligor parent are sought in order to alleviate the custodial parent’s reliance on public assistance, such as food stamps, and, in turn, alleviate the burden that eventually falls on taxpayers.

This is one reason why applicants for public assistance must disclose whether they have a child. They must also disclose whether the child lives with them, meaning whether they are the custodial parent, and whether or not the other parent lives in the same household. If the applicant discloses that he or she is the custodial parent of a child and the other parent does not live with them, then the Department of Revenue is likely to pursue the other parent for child support.

Should an obligor parent fail to pay court-ordered child support, the Florida Department of Revenue has an array of enforcement tools at its disposal. For instance, the Florida Department of Revenue may:

  • Mail notice of late payment to the obligor’s address in order to inform him of the unpaid child support obligation
  • Mail notice to the obligor’s employer instructing them on withholding wages for child support payments
  • Suspend the obligor’s driver’s license
  • Suspend business, professional, hunting, or fishing licenses of the obligor
  • Deduct child support obligation from workers’ compensation benefits
  • Garnishment of bank accounts or other financial accounts

Florida Family Law Attorneys

Should the Florida Department of Revenue pursue an enforcement action against you for unpaid child support, you need to secure legal counsel as soon as possible. The dedicated child support attorneys at Orlando Family Team can help protect you from being subjected to some of the strict enforcement mechanisms at the Department’s disposal. We will always stand by your side and protect your best interests. Contact us today.

Daughter holding paper shapes of family.

What Is Considered to Be an Unfit Parent in Florida?

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Florida law makes it clear that children are a priority. The well-being of children and the best interest of children is the guiding standard in all family law decisions where children are involved. The rights of parents are also an important part of Florida family law. A parent’s rights to raise and care for his or her child is fiercely protected. In some cases, however, a parent acts in such a way that it is clear they are unfit for the role of parent in the life of their child. Determining a parent to be unfit is not a decision Florida courts take lightly, but it is all too often one that needs to be made in order to protect a child from harm.

What Is Deemed As an Unfit Parent 

Pursuant to Florida Statute 751.05, a parent may be found unfit if he or she abused, abandoned, or neglected the child. Abuse includes intentionally inflicting mental or physical harm against a child. It may also include intentional acts reasonably expected to cause mental or physical injury. Additionally, a parent may be deemed abusive if he or she actively encouraged someone else to commit an abusive act against the child.

In the alternative, a parent may be found unfit due to child neglect. Neglect occurs when a parent fails to provide the care and supervision needed to support the mental and physical health of the child. A parent or caregiver may also be found neglectful if he or she failed to take reasonable steps to protect a child from abuse, neglect, or exploitation by someone else.

Abandonment is also grounds for deeming a parent unfit in Florida. Abandonment of a child means that, despite being able to, a parent made no provision for the child’s support. Furthermore, abandonment of a child means a parent failed to either establish or maintain a substantial, positive relationship with the child. An official charge of child abandonment in Florida is officially known as “unlawful desertion of a child.” This occurs when a caregiver leaves a child in a situation where he or she knew or should have known that leaving would expose the child to risk of harm.

Not mutually exclusive to the above-listed factors, but worth highlighting, is the fact that a Florida court may also deem a parent to be unfit if they have an established history of drug abuse or mental illness. A history of either does not mean that a person lacks the ability to be a good parent. Evidence of either, however, will merit further evaluation by the court. Courts will be hesitant to place a child in a situation where they are in the care of someone who has a history of erratic, dangerous behaviors.

Florida Family Law Attorneys

Being found as an unfit parent in Florida can have serious repercussions. A person can be denied custody and visitation privileges. An unfit parent determination may lead to termination of parental rights. There can also be criminal charges associated with the determination. At the end of the day, we all want what is best for the children. At Orlando Family Team, we are here to represent you as we work to preserve the best interests of your child. Contact us today.

The definition of child support on a page

Is There a Cap on Child Support in Florida?

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Calculating child support in Florida is based on the “Income Shares Model.” This means that Florida courts apply a statutory formula to estimate how much will be spent on caring for the children based on the income of both parents. The formula used in Florida’s child support guidelines takes the income of each parent and takes all applicable deductions. Then, the amount of timesharing between the parents, based on the number of overnights, is accounted for to reach a base child support amount. From there, the pro rata childcare costs of each parent as well as health insurance expenses is calculated. Employing this formula means that the Florida child support calculation is relatively straightforward. It is an important issue that can have a major impact on the parents and families involved. That is why it is a good idea to review the process for calculating child support and estimating what you might end up owing or might end up being owed.

Are There Caps in Child Support?

There is no actual cap on the amount of a person’s monthly child support obligation. The statutory formula used to calculate a child support obligation, however, means that the obligation should never exceed a person’s ability to pay. The court will review the standard of living of a child prior to divorce and set up the calculation in a way that the child will continue to enjoy the same or similar standard of living after divorce. Also, the court works to ensure that the payments are fair relative to the paying parent’s income level. This is because a parent’s ability to pay is a central factor in the child support calculation.

To start the calculation, the gross monthly of both parents is calculated by including things such as salary, bonuses, interest earned, dividends received, disability benefits, unemployment compensation, and spousal support, among other sources of income. Some things, such as income tax, will be deducted from the gross monthly income. The child support guidelines then evaluate how many overnights the child will spend with each parents pursuant to the established parenting plan. Health insurance costs and out-of-pocket medical expenses are included in the child support calculations along with any childcare costs such as daycare or afterschool care.

As you can see, while there is no set amount regarding a cap on child support in Florida, the child support calculation is based on firm, objective numbers. Because of the formula, the child support obligation should never end up exceeding a parent’s ability to pay. The court has some discretion to deviate from the child support guidelines, but does not have very wide latitude with this. The court may vary within 5 percent of the child support amount generated by the guidelines. If the court wishes to vary more than 5 percent, then a written order must be drawn up with an explanation as to why the guideline payments would be insufficient or otherwise inappropriate.

Florida Family Law Attorneys

While the child support formula employed by Florida courts seems relatively straightforward, it can also be complicated, particularly if you are not used to this kind of legal proceeding. The dedicated child support attorneys at Orlando Family Team will not only explain the entire process to you, but are here to advocate for your best interests and those of your family. Contact us today.

Man who was recently furloughed and wondering how it will affect his child support.

I Was Furloughed and Now Make Less Money — How Does This Affect My Child Support?

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The coronavirus pandemic has closed down much of the U.S. economy. In the state of Florida, a large percentage of workers have either been laid off or furloughed until further notice. Many individuals in this category are not only worried about how to survive without a paycheck, but about how this enormous alteration of their finances will affect how much child support they will receive or be expected to pay. 

If you are troubled by your new status as a furloughed employee, your best bet is to consult with a strong Florida divorce attorney like Orlando Family Team. No matter whether you are unable to meet your child support responsibilities, or conversely, are afraid you won’t be able to pay your bills without incoming child support payments, our empathic attorneys will provide you with emotional support and realistic options.

What exactly does being furloughed mean?

A furlough is essentially a mandatory suspension from work during which the employee is not paid. Furloughs usually affect a particular business because of a specific calamity (like a fire), or affect a type of business when there are economic reversals for a particular industry. In the first half of 2020, however, because of a pandemic unlike anything seen during the past century, a very high percentage of businesses have shut down, leaving over 17 million Americans unemployed. 

In Florida, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando has been one of the places hardest hit. Seventy-thousand workers from that one corporation are right now relying on unemployment for sustenance. It should be noted that unemployment is funded by the federal government, but administered by the states. The Florida State Unemployment Assistance Program measures up poorly against most other states, allocating only $275 a week for 12 weeks to eligible recipients. Forty-thousand of those let go by Disney have been furloughed.

Furloughed Workers Are in a Double Bind

Private employees on furlough usually consider applying for unemployment insurance or taking temporary jobs to see them through. Unfortunately, if a privately furloughed employee takes either of these actions, he or she is usually responsible for paying back any monies received as soon as the furlough is over. To add insult to injury, divorcé(e)s responsible for paying child support continue to be held accountable for any support payments they miss, along with penalties for lateness. Government workers on furlough have an advantage here since they maintain unemployment rights and cannot be fired or replaced without due process during their furloughed tenure, which may last for up to a year.

Furloughed employees, even those who work for private companies, have an expectation that they will return to work. In most cases, the employers will either provide the furloughed employers with a specific date of the expected return or indicate that they will be able to resume past duties when they have fulfilled a required task, such as obtaining a certification. During the pandemic, though, furloughs almost uniformly occur because businesses cannot afford to pay their employees during a period during which they cannot maintain their bottom line.

Much Remains Unknown

As of only a few months ago, most of us were living in a different world. COVID-19 has brought with it a tremendous amount of turmoil, but it has also brought a determination to adapt to our new environment. The answers to many of our questions, including those concerning how child support is affected by employee furloughs, can, for the moment, only be answered tentatively. New legislation is being conceived and enacted practically daily and it will take more time for the law to catch up with our new reality.

One thing is for sure — your children must be supported. That need won’t change. It is possible, though, that laws will be amended to make room for increased flexibility during this period of great struggle. For example, suppose you are a child support payor and your wages have been garnished because you were delinquent in previous payments. If now, as a government employee who has been furloughed, you are not receiving a paycheck from which the state can withhold child support due, will you still be charged exorbitant penalties (as much as 10 percent compounded) for lack of payment?

In order to understand the most recent legal developments to divorce law, and how they will affect you and your child support, it is best to consult with a dependable divorce lawyer. In the face of all the changes that have come to the state of Florida, the United States, and the world in the past few months, it is difficult to predict what will happen next. It seems that the more the population struggles, the more likely the courts are to make pragmatic exceptions. This may tilt new legislation in favor of the payor of child support. Nonetheless, all children have the right to be fed and clothed and protected from danger, so we’ll have to wait and see. 

To Best Protect Yourself and Your Children, Contact Orlando Family Team 

For your own safety and the safety of your children, it is crucial that you get proper legal counsel from a team with a reputation for being trustworthy and dedicated to their clients. Contact Orlando Family Team. We are committed to protecting your rights while making certain your children are provided for during the pandemic. 

Man holding his stimulus check.

Does My Stimulus Check Count as Income and Do I Need to Give a Portion of it to Child Support?

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COVID-19 has unquestionably changed the world for everyone, including divorced parents. Whether you have recently divorced or have long ago settled into the somewhat unsettling routine of child custody, child support, and parenting time, the pandemic may have already affected you financially. The recent Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) has been created to give those harmed the most some measure of financial relief, but how will it affect you?

You may have lost your job or are working remotely. You and your ex no doubt have to rethink childcare arrangements since many daycare facilities and schools are now closed. Now that you may be getting a stimulus check from the federal government, you are wondering how your divorce status will affect your potential benefit. Will you have to pay a portion of it in child support? This is a good time to get in touch with Orlando Family Team where our knowledgeable attorneys can provide you with information and support.

What Stimulus Checks Are Designed to Accomplish

In view of the fact that so many Americans are experiencing severe financial (not to mention physical and emotional) pain during the pandemic, a $2 trillion economic stimulus package has been legislated by the federal government. 

What Stimulus Checks Pay

The plan is to send $1,200 to each single adult who reported a gross income of under $75,000 for 2019. Single parents designated heads of households will receive $1200 if their income does not exceed $112,500. Married couples who filed jointly will receive $2,400 if their combined income is under $150,000. Payments diminish if individuals or couples exceed the income limit, their stimulus check decreased by $5 for every $100 above the limit. Each payment, however, has a cap on income above which no stimulus will be given. 

But what about those who are divorced? When parents are divorced, whichever parent claims the child as a dependent will receive an additional $500 for each child under 17.

If You Are Already Divorced

Because most divorce decrees include stipulations that joint tax refunds will be recognized as an asset to be equitably distributed, it seems fair that if you filed a joint tax return, a stimulus check based on your family’s pre-divorce status would be divided 50/50. But what happens if the check is automatically deposited in your ex’s bank account? While many ex-spouses will share the amount received, some will not. Then the question for the excluded spouse will be: Is it worth the monetary cost and emotional turbulence to engage in a legal battle to obtain my share of the stimulus check? Your trusted divorce attorney will be able to help you answer this question in your particular case.

If You’re Not Yet Divorced

If you’re in the process of negotiating your divorce, your attorney will make sure the handling of the stimulus payment is addressed as part of your final agreement. It should be noted that rumors stating that your stimulus will have to be returned next year by forfeiting your tax refund are completely false. Stimulus checks will not be taxed, now or in the future.

How do stimulus checks affect child support payments?

While the CARES Act suspends certain debts, including overdue student loans or back taxes — which, under ordinary circumstances could have led to garnished wages or tax refunds — delinquent child support payments are in a completely different category. 

Because the federal government always makes child support a priority, stimulus checks may be seized to pay back child support. As a matter of fact, child support is the only obligation that subjects stimulus payments to the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). Even if you are experiencing financial hardship, no exceptions to this provision will be made. The process, however, is cumbersome and results in delays: the amount reduced or withheld for owed child support will go back to the state, and only then will a new check be issued to the parent who is owed child support. 

The Takeaway

If you owe back child support and expect to receive a stimulus payment, you should be aware that your debt will offset that check for the amount you owe. In other words, depending on how much child support you owe, you will either not receive a stimulus check at all, or you will receive a check for a lower amount. If you feel that you don’t owe the back child support that has been reported, or if your ex refuses to pay you your half of a couple’s stimulus check, you should contact Orlando Family Team for clarification and legal guidance. 

Figures of family members separated through divorce.

Factors Considered When Determining Child Support

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In the State of Florida, parents have an obligation to financially provide for their children. This obligation is in place regardless of whether or not the parents are married. That is why child support comes into play during divorce proceedings. When determining child support, a judge will follow a strict set of guidelines.

What Is Considered When Determining Child Support?

Pursuant to Florida law, courts follow an “Income Shares Model” in child support calculations. This means that courts estimate the amount of money the parents would spend on the children should the family be living in one household intact. This amount is then divided between the parents based on their respective income levels.

The Florida Child Support Guidelines are used to calculate child support payments. In order for the guidelines to be completed, each parent must file financial affidavits and exchange them with each other. These affidavits are used to verify the income and expenses of each parent. The information provided in the affidavits is used to fill out the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet. What the guidelines do is calculate the child support obligation based on the number of children and the combined net incomes of the parents. The combined net incomes include the gross income of each parent with allowable deductions subtracted. The gross income amount includes the majority of different types of both earned and unearned income. For instance, gross income will include things like:

  • Wages/Salary
  • Commissions
  • Bonuses
  • Dividend payments
  • Interest
  • Workers’ compensation benefits
  • Retirement benefits

Deductions that may be taken to reach the net income of a parent include:

  • Federal income tax deductions
  • Qualifying health insurance premiums
  • Social Security payments
  • Spousal support payments (alimony)
  • Court-ordered child support payments (for children from previous relationships)

The information provided in the financial affidavits are entered into the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet in order to arrive at the basic child support amount. This basic child support amount is then allocated between the parents in proportion to each other’s income. In addition to income, the allocation will depend on things like custody and visitation. For instance, the annual number of overnights with a parent will be relevant to the calculation.

Judges do not have much ability in deviating from child support guidelines. In fact, a judge only has the ability to vary within five percent over or under the guidelines and this is only under certain circumstances. When deviating from the guideline amount, it must be deemed necessary based on factors that include things like a parent’s ability to pay and the special needs of the child.

Florida Child Support Attorneys

Child support calculations are complex and there are a variety of factors at play. Child support payments can have a significant impact on the finances of both the payor and the recipient. It is important that you are aware of your legal rights and obligations. The trusted Florida child support attorneys at the Orlando Family Team will answer your child support questions and concerns. Contact us today.

Man calculating his child support arrears with lawyer.

How Long Can Child Support Arrears Be Collected?

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In order to be enforceable, child support obligations must be in a written child support order signed by a circuit court judge. Should a parent fail to pay an unofficial or orally or informally agreed upon child support obligation, there is no legal recourse available. If there is a legally binding child support order in place, however, the parent who is to receive child support payments may seek legal recourse against a parent who has failed to pay a child support obligation. When the payor parent fails to pay child support, it is referred to as “child support arrears.” 

Child support arrears refer to the amount of child support owed that a parent has failed to pay. Missed payments can quickly add up and both parties to the child support order should be made familiar with when child support arrears may be collected.

Child Support Arrears – When Do You Stop Paying?

It is a longstanding myth that once a child reaches the age of majority, turns 18 years old, child support arrears, also referred to as “back child support,” cannot be collected. This is not true. Florida law has no statute of limitations on collecting past-due child support. In other words, there is no time limit on when a parent can seek a collection of child support arrears and the Florida Department of Revenue has the legal authority to indefinitely pursue a parent to enforce child support arrears. A parent entitled to receive child support payments that have been missed has the ability to seek collection of that back child support even when the children related to the child support order are all grown up.

Penalties for Overdue Child Support

If you are a parent who is supposed to be receiving child support but the payor parent has failed to make the requisite payments, you may seek collection of those missed payments through filing a motion for contempt with the circuit court. A hearing on the matter will be scheduled and the judge will issue a decision as to what the total child support arrears are and whether interest on the missed payments should be assessed. Should the payor parent fail to pay and refuse to agree to a payment plan, then the court has the authority to sentence the parent to jail time for no more than 179 days or until the parent pays the amount set by the judge. Other penalties that the delinquent payor parent may be subject to include:

  • Driver’s license suspension
  • Loss of license plate
  • Seizure of bank account funds
  • Loss of hunting and fishing licenses
  • Seizure of tax refunds
  • Loss of vehicle registration
  • Seizure of lottery winnings
  • Loss of professional licenses

Contact the Orlando Family Team Today

If you have failed to receive court-ordered child support payments, you have legal options available to you. Life can be busy with children, work, and everything else life has to throw your way. Know that your right to collect child support arrears does not expire. The dedicated child support attorneys at Orlando Family Team will help you pursue the child support you are owed. Contact us today.

Lawyer and client discussing his child support agreement.

How Long Do You Have to Pay Child Support?

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Child support is intended to be, as the name suggests, payments to support care for a child or children. They are court-ordered and are usually made by the noncustodial parent to the parent with primary or sole custody. The battles waged over child support often do not end with divorce being finalized. There are modification battles and non-payment battles that frequently pop up. The strain of payment and non-payment of child support will have many people wondering: how long do you have to pay child support?

When does child support end?

Under current Florida law, all child support orders must contain an end date for the payment of child support. Usually, the end date is the child’s 18th birthday. If there are multiple children involved in the child support order, the order should contain different dates for each child. 

While it is the default for child support to end when a child reaches 18 years of age, there are instances when child support may end prior to the child’s 18th birthday. For instance, Florida law would assume that a child would no longer need to be supported by his or her parents if the minor child:

  • Got married
  • Entered the military
  • Applied for emancipation

In the alternative, child support payment may be required past the age of 18 in certain situations. Florida statutes have a provision for extending child support until your child reaches the age of 19. This happens in instances when the child has not or will not graduate high school by his or her 18th birthday. 

The child support payments will then be set to end upon graduation from high school. However, Florida law also grants the option of ending child support early even in these types of cases. If your child is definitely not on track to graduate from high school prior to the age of 19, then child support will still end on the child’s 18th birthday. While it may not have been the intention of creating such a provision in the law, it does work to encourage parents to help ensure the child graduates from high school on time.

While 19 years old is the maximum age of the child for a parent to continue paying a child support obligation, there are rare instances where child support continues after the age of 19 and may not even have an end date. This happens when a child has special needs that prevent him or her from ever becoming a self-supporting adult. If your child has such needs, the special needs status must be recognized in the final child support court order. If it has not been included, your child reaches the age of 18, and child support has ended, then the case to continue child support cannot be reopened.

Florida Child Support Attorneys

Child support laws are intricate and it can be difficult to follow the specifics. That is why the trusted child support attorneys at the Orlando Family Team make sure to counsel their clients in a way that an understanding of the law and its requirements are made clear. We want you to understand what is going on as we work to protect the best interests of you and your family. Contact us today.