In Florida, the minimum child support a parent has to pay depends on a variety of factors, most notably how many children they have and what their monthly income is.
Our Orlando child custody lawyers can help you calculate how much child support you or your former partner should be paying. If you have trouble keeping up with support payments, or if your former partner refuses to pay, we can assist you with these family law matters as well.
How Is Minimum Child Support Calculated in Florida?
Under Florida law, the absolute minimum child support that a parent might pay as of 2025 is $190. This amount applies to a parent supporting one child on a monthly income of $800. Anyone who makes more than this and/or has multiple children to support will have to pay more.
The parent’s income is determined based on how much they earn through wages, tips, and bonuses; any Social Security Disability or workers’ compensation benefits they receive; and income from rent, interest, or royalties, among other sources of income.
You will be expected to provide the court with financial documents to prove your income level. Our law firm can review this documentation and make sure you submit everything on time.
Other Factors That Could Affect Your Child Support Payments
Florida’s custody laws prioritize the child’s needs and well-being, so the judge should be very careful about ensuring that each parent has enough money to provide for the children’s basic needs. Since each child’s needs are different—for example, some may need to attend special schools or classes if they have certain disabilities—the minimum required child support payments in Florida can vary widely.
The judge can also take into account:
- How much time you spend with the child (the greater your share of responsibility, the less you may pay in child support)
- How much the other parent has to pay for the child’s health insurance or daycare costs (you may have to reimburse them)
- The cost of any extracurricular activities your child participates in, as laid out in the parenting plan you and the other parent agree to
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Can You Change the Amount of Child Support You Pay?
In some cases, yes, you can ask that the court alter child support payments. Such changes are generally only granted in cases where the parent’s situation permanently changes for reasons outside of their control. Consider these examples:
- If you are laid off from your job, your monthly income will decrease, but your child support payments will likely stay the same unless and until it becomes apparent that you will not be able to find another job any time soon.
- If you get a permanent raise at work, you will have to report this increase so the court can adjust your support payments accordingly.
- If your former partner gets a permanent raise, then your payments may decrease, as they no longer have as much need for your support.
- If you quit your job, this is typically considered to be a choice within your control, so it will have no effect on your support payments.
Eventually, once your children reach the age of 18, you will no longer have to pay any child support.
What Should You Do if You Cannot Make Your Child Support Payments?
Some parents may feel embarrassed or ashamed about being unable to support their children, which could lead them to say nothing about their troubles and miss payments without warning. This is the worst thing you could do, both for yourself and your children.
Failure to pay child support can have immediate, negative consequences on your life. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, you could:
- Have your driver’s license suspended
- Lose other valuable licenses, including professional and recreational licenses
- Have part of your income withheld
- Face legal action and penalties
When it comes to family law matters, it is best to be proactive and honest. Tell our attorneys immediately if you are having difficulty making payments. We can act on your behalf and work with both the court and your former partner to see what can be done. This way, you avoid unnecessary legal trouble, and your children’s lives are not disrupted by a sudden, unexplained lack of support.
What Happens if Your Former Partner Refuses to Pay Child Support?
Our law firm can also help parents facing the opposite situation: a former partner who will not agree to pay a fair amount of support, or who refuses to make payments that they previously agreed to.
We may start by reaching out to your former partner and their legal representative to find out what is happening. If we cannot get a satisfactory answer and a guarantee of a forthcoming payment, we can take legal action to compel them to sign an agreement or abide by the agreement they signed. Possible actions include:
- Mediating negotiations between the parents until they reach an agreement
- Suggesting other forms of dispute resolution
- Collecting evidence to show how much money you need to support your children and where that money will go
- Taking legal action if and when necessary
The goal of child support is not to “punish” either parent: it is to provide for your children. You want what is best for your children, and so do we. Our child support attorneys can help you ensure your children get everything they need to thrive.
Our Legal Team Understands All of Florida’s Custody Laws
The lawyers at Bogin, Munns & Munns have over a century of combined experience in aiding Florida families like yours. Call today for a consultation regarding your rights, including the minimum child support that must be paid in Florida. We want to help you do what is best for your family by handling your custody case from start to finish.
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