What can I do, as the custodial parent, if the Florida child support guidelines is not enough to cover the child’s basic monthly needs?
When the Florida Child Support Guidelines do not provide sufficient monthly support for your minor children, you may have the option of increasing the child support award by filing a Motion for an Upward Deviation from the Child Support Guidelines. Florida Courts do have the discretion to deviate a child support amount up to five percent (5%) from the child support guidelines amount without having to provide any written judicial findings. However, for any deviation greater than 5%, the Court will have to base its written findings on certain legal factors. Some of those factors are listed below.
- A child has unusual medical, psychological, education, or dental expenses;
- A child has special needs, such as costs that could be associated with a disability;
- The parent paying child support has an unique financial situation, in which the child support guidelines did not properly calculate the parent’s capability to pay; or
- An adjustment that includes reasonable and necessary expenses or debts.
If you have questions regarding child support deviation, please contact The Law Office of Patricia Palma, P.A. at 813-258-3211 to make an appointment to discuss your case in detail.