Broward County Child Support Attorney

Child support disputes touch something fundamental: a child’s daily life, stability, and opportunities. Whether you are a parent trying to secure a fair support order, seeking a modification because your circumstances have changed, or dealing with an order that is not being followed, the outcome of these proceedings has real consequences that last for years. Working with a Broward County child support attorney who understands both Florida’s guidelines and the local court system can make a substantial difference in what gets ordered and how quickly the matter resolves.

Florida uses an income shares model to calculate child support, meaning the court looks at both parents’ incomes together, then apportions responsibility proportionally. On paper, that sounds straightforward. In practice, disputes arise constantly over how to calculate income for self-employed parents, how to account for overnights in a shared parenting arrangement, how to handle childcare costs and health insurance premiums, and what to do when one parent has voluntarily reduced their earnings. These are not minor technical questions. They can shift a monthly support figure by hundreds of dollars.

Broward County’s family court caseload is among the largest in Florida. Cases move through the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, and the procedures, judges, and local practices here differ from what you would encounter in Dade or Palm Beach. Having an attorney familiar with how Broward family court actually works, not just how Florida law reads on paper, matters from the moment you file.

How Child Support Is Actually Calculated in Florida

Florida’s child support guidelines are set out in statute and are presumptively correct, but that does not mean the number produced by the formula is always the final word. Courts can deviate from the guideline amount when the circumstances warrant it, and both parents have the right to present evidence that an adjustment is appropriate.

The calculation starts with each parent’s net monthly income, which is gross income minus specific allowable deductions including federal taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and mandatory union dues. Income includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, rental income, business income, and in some cases, imputed income if a parent is found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. This last point is important: if a parent quits a well-paying job or takes a lower-paying position without a legitimate reason, the court can attribute income to them at their earning capacity rather than their actual earnings.

Once combined net income is determined, it is applied to a schedule that produces a basic support obligation. That base number is then adjusted for health insurance premiums paid for the children, work-related childcare costs, and the number of overnights each parent has under the parenting plan. Parents who have the children for a substantial portion of overnights per year may qualify for an adjustment that reflects the direct costs they are bearing during their time with the children.

Extraordinary expenses, including unreimbursed medical costs, private school tuition if previously agreed upon, and certain extracurricular expenses, can also factor into the final order. Understanding what can and cannot be included, and how to document those expenses properly, is where working with a child support attorney in Broward County becomes practically valuable.

What a Broward County Child Support Case May Involve

• Initial support orders: When parents are establishing support for the first time, whether as part of a divorce or a paternity action, the court will set an amount based on the guideline calculation along with orders for health insurance and expense sharing.
• Modification of existing orders: Florida allows modification when there has been a substantial change in circumstances that is permanent, involuntary, and material. Job loss, significant income changes, a child’s changed needs, or a major shift in the timesharing schedule can each support a modification petition filed in Broward County family court.
• Enforcement of unpaid support: When a parent falls behind, enforcement tools include income withholding orders, license suspension, passport denial, contempt proceedings, and in serious cases, incarceration. The Broward County Department of Child Support Services also assists with enforcement for cases in the Title IV-D program.
• Imputed income disputes: When one parent claims to earn less than their demonstrated earning capacity, the court may impute income based on their work history, education, and local job market conditions. Broward County’s diverse economy makes these determinations highly fact-specific.
• Self-employment and business income: Parents who are self-employed or own businesses present unique challenges because their reported income may not reflect actual available resources. Accurate calculation often requires reviewing business tax returns, profit and loss statements, and sometimes working with a financial professional.
• Paternity and support: Child support in Florida can only be ordered once legal paternity is established. If a father is not listed on the birth certificate and has not signed an acknowledgment of paternity, a paternity action must be filed before support can be ordered.
• Interstate support issues: When one parent lives outside Florida, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act governs which state’s courts have jurisdiction and how orders are enforced across state lines. These cases add procedural complexity that requires careful handling from the start.

What to Do When You Have a Child Support Issue in Broward County

The first practical step depends on where you are in the process. If no support order exists yet, you will need to file either as part of a divorce or dissolution proceeding or, for unmarried parents, through a separate paternity and support action. Both types of cases are filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts, located at the Broward County Courthouse at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The clerk’s office maintains the family law filing desk, and cases are then assigned to a family division judge.

If you already have an order and want to modify it, you will file a supplemental petition for modification in the same case. Florida requires that you demonstrate a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances before a court will revisit an existing order. Simply believing the current amount is unfair is not enough. Documenting the change, whether it is a new job, a layoff, a change in your child’s medical needs, or a shift in the parenting schedule, is critical before you file.

If a parent is not paying support as ordered, you have several avenues. You can file a motion for contempt in family court, contact the Broward County Department of Child Support Services if your case qualifies for their enforcement assistance, or pursue an income deduction order if one is not already in place. Income deduction orders, which automatically withhold support from a paying parent’s paycheck, are the most reliable enforcement mechanism and are generally required in Florida support orders.

One common mistake parents make is waiting too long to act. Florida does not automatically modify support orders when circumstances change. The modification only takes effect from the date the petition is filed, not from the date the change occurred. If your income dropped six months ago and you have not filed, you are still legally obligated for the full amount during those months. Acting promptly protects you financially and legally.

Gather the documents you will need before meeting with an attorney: recent pay stubs, the last two or three years of tax returns, any existing court orders, financial affidavits you have previously filed, records of childcare costs, and documentation of health insurance premiums. The more complete your picture of both parents’ financial situations, the more efficiently a Broward County child support attorney can assess your case and advise you on realistic outcomes.

Why Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. for Child Support Representation in Broward County

Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. focuses on family law matters including divorce, mediation, and the financial issues that arise within family court proceedings, serving clients in Fort Lauderdale and across Broward County. The firm’s approach to family law is grounded in a genuine commitment to reaching resolutions that are fair and lasting without manufacturing conflict where cooperation is possible. That same philosophy applies to child support cases, where the goal is always a workable arrangement that actually serves the child’s needs over time.

For clients dealing with support disputes that are part of a larger divorce or custody matter, the firm’s experience handling uncontested divorce, mediation, and collaborative resolution provides a meaningful advantage. Many child support disputes can be resolved through mediation rather than contested hearings, saving time, money, and the kind of acrimony that makes co-parenting harder afterward. When contested proceedings are necessary, the firm brings focused knowledge of Broward County’s family court system and the Florida child support guidelines to every case.

The firm serves clients from its Fort Lauderdale office and understands the local courts, procedures, and practical realities that affect how cases actually move through the Broward County family division.

Questions About Child Support in Broward County

How does Florida decide how much child support a parent pays?

Florida uses a guideline formula that combines both parents’ net monthly incomes to arrive at a total support obligation, then divides that obligation proportionally between the parents. The formula also accounts for the number of overnights each parent has with the children, health insurance costs, and work-related childcare expenses. Courts can deviate from the guideline amount when specific circumstances make the standard calculation unjust or inappropriate, but any deviation must be supported by written findings.

Can child support be modified after the divorce is final?

Yes. Either parent can petition the court for a modification when there has been a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances since the last order was entered. Common examples include a significant change in either parent’s income, a child developing a medical condition that increases expenses, a major change in the parenting timesharing schedule, or the child reaching an age where childcare costs are no longer necessary. The change must be ongoing, not temporary.

What happens if the other parent stops paying child support?

An unpaid support obligation does not simply go away. Florida has multiple enforcement tools available, including wage garnishment through an income deduction order, suspension of the non-paying parent’s driver’s license and professional licenses, seizure of tax refunds, interception of lottery winnings, passport denial for debts above a certain threshold, and contempt of court proceedings that can result in jail time. The Broward County Department of Child Support Services also assists with enforcement for qualifying cases.

Does shared custody mean neither parent pays child support?

Not necessarily. Florida does adjust the support calculation based on overnights, so a parent who has the children for a significant share of the year will see their obligation reduced. However, because child support is also based on each parent’s income, there is almost always still a payment obligation from the higher-earning parent even in substantially equal timesharing arrangements. The specific numbers depend on the income difference between the parents and the exact timesharing split.

Can a parent agree to waive child support?

Parents cannot waive child support between themselves in a way that binds the court. Child support belongs to the child, not to the parents, and Florida courts have the authority to decline to approve agreements that leave a child without adequate financial support. A court reviewing any parenting or support agreement will still apply the guideline calculation and must approve any deviation from it with written justification.

What if a self-employed parent underreports income to lower their support obligation?

This is a recognized issue in family court, and Florida judges are familiar with it. Courts can look behind reported income to assess actual financial resources, including reviewing business bank statements, examining business expenses that may be personal in nature, and considering lifestyle evidence. If underreporting is suspected, an attorney can request broad financial discovery during the case and, when appropriate, recommend that a forensic accountant or financial professional be involved in evaluating the business income.

How long does child support last in Florida?

In Florida, child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, but not beyond age 19. There is no statutory requirement that a parent contribute to college tuition or expenses, though parents can agree to do so voluntarily and include that in their settlement agreement. Support can also terminate earlier if the child becomes legally emancipated before reaching these ages.

What is a financial affidavit and why does it matter in a Broward County support case?

A financial affidavit is a sworn document that both parties are required to file in Florida child support and divorce proceedings. It discloses income, expenses, assets, and liabilities in detail. Because it is signed under oath, misrepresentations on a financial affidavit can expose a party to perjury consequences. The affidavit is also one of the primary documents a judge uses to determine support amounts, so accuracy and completeness matter enormously. An attorney can help you prepare an accurate affidavit and identify discrepancies in the other parent’s filing.

Can child support be addressed through mediation rather than a court hearing?

Yes, and in many Broward County cases, mediation is either required or strongly encouraged before a contested hearing is held. Child support amounts that fall within the Florida guidelines can be agreed upon in mediation, and even disputes about imputed income, expense allocation, or extraordinary expenses can often be resolved without a judge deciding the outcome. Mediation tends to produce more durable agreements because both parties have a hand in crafting the result rather than having it imposed on them.

If I move out of Broward County or out of Florida, does my support order still apply?

Yes. A valid Florida child support order follows both parents regardless of where they move. If the paying parent moves to another state, the receiving parent can register the Florida order in the new state and use that state’s enforcement mechanisms, or continue using Florida’s enforcement tools. Jurisdiction and enforcement across state lines are governed by the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, which Florida has adopted. Modifications, however, become more complex when parents live in different states, and legal guidance is important before attempting to modify an order in those circumstances.

Serving Child Support Clients Throughout Broward County and South Florida

Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. represents parents and families across Broward County and the surrounding region. From the neighborhoods of Fort Lauderdale, including Coral Ridge, Victoria Park, Rio Vista, and Tarpon River, through communities like Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, and Lauderdale Lakes to the north, the firm handles child support matters throughout the county. Clients from Plantation, Davie, Cooper City, and Pembroke Pines in the western portions of Broward County regularly work with the firm, as do those from Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, and the coastal communities of Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. The firm also serves families in Miramar, Southwest Ranches, and Weston, as well as those in smaller communities including Lauderhill, Tamarac, North Lauderdale, and Coconut Creek. Wherever you are located in Broward County, the firm’s proximity to the Broward County Courthouse and familiarity with the family division procedures means your case is handled by someone who knows this jurisdiction.

Speak With a Broward County Child Support Lawyer About Your Situation

Child support questions rarely stay simple for long. Whether you are establishing an order for the first time, dealing with a parent who has stopped paying, or facing a change in your financial situation that warrants a modification review, getting accurate legal guidance early prevents problems that become much harder to fix later. Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. works with families in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County to reach support arrangements that reflect the actual financial picture and genuinely serve the children involved. If you have questions about your situation, we encourage you to reach out and schedule a consultation with our Broward County child support attorney today.