After making the decision to end your marriage, you may feel as though the difficult part is behind you. However, the financial details of your divorce must be considered. If you have children or if your lifestyle and the length of your marriage dictate, you may be required to pay child and/or spousal support.
A skilled Florida child and spousal support attorney like the members of the team at the Ramirez Law Firm in Tampa can help. Our attorneys have the legal knowledge and acumen to handle even the most complex cases.
Florida child support
Child support amounts are determined and ordered pursuant to the Florida Child Support Guidelines. When calculating the amount of child support a parent must pay, the Child Support Guidelines take into consideration the:
- Income of the parents
- Needs of the child
- Special needs of the child, if any
- Medical, dental and optical insurance
- Daycare or after-school care
- Timesharing of the child
The court also determines the amount each parent must pay for uncovered medical, dental and optical expenses for the benefit of the child.
The court enters an Income Deduction Order whereby the child support payments are deducted directly from the paying parent’s income. If a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, the attorneys at the Ramirez Law Firm are able to assist you in enforcing your child’s rights to support. Or, if you are unable to financially pay for your court–ordered child support obligation due to no fault of your own, we can assist you in requesting either an abatement of your child support or a modification of your child support obligation.
The child support order may be modified if warranted in the event that a substantial involuntary change of circumstances has occurred, such as:
- A large increase or decrease in either parent’s income
- A significant change in the timesharing schedule
- A substantial change in the child’s financial needs, such as medical or educational expenses
We are well versed in the law and can help you with any proceedings filed by the Department of Revenue or the Administrative Child Support Department.
Spousal support in Florida
In Florida, the court may award several different forms of alimony:
- Bridge-the-Gap Alimony
- Transitional Alimony
- Rehabilitative Alimony
- Temporary Alimony
- Durational Alimony
- Permanent Periodic Alimony
- Lump-Sum Alimony
The courts take several factors into account when determining spousal support, including:
- The standard of living established while married
- The length of the marriage
- The age and health of each spouse
- Each spouse’s financial resources and assets
The court may consider any other factor necessary to ensure an equitable resolution to the divorce.
Contact the Ramirez Law Firm today
Call us at 813-253-4529 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. Se Habla Español.
