Fort Lauderdale Child Support Enforcement Attorney

Child support orders exist for a reason, but an order on paper means nothing if the other parent stops paying. When payments go missing, when checks arrive late month after month, or when a co-parent simply disappears and stops contributing entirely, the financial pressure falls entirely on you and your children. A Fort Lauderdale child support enforcement attorney can help you turn a court order back into actual money, using the full range of enforcement tools Florida law provides.

Broward County’s family court system handles a substantial volume of child support cases, and the enforcement process here has real teeth. Florida allows wage garnishment, license suspension, contempt proceedings, and even incarceration in serious cases of willful nonpayment. But activating those remedies takes knowledge of the local court procedures, correct paperwork, and persistence. Attempting to navigate enforcement on your own, especially when the nonpaying parent is evasive or has hired their own attorney, often leaves custodial parents waiting far longer than necessary.

Whether you are owed months of back payments, dealing with a parent who recently lost a job and claims they cannot pay, or trying to collect support from someone who has moved out of state, the right legal help makes a measurable difference in how quickly you see results and how much you ultimately recover.

How Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. Approaches Child Support Enforcement in Broward County

Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. is a Fort Lauderdale family law firm built around amicable solutions and practical outcomes for families. The firm serves clients throughout Fort Lauderdale and the broader Broward County area, as well as the St. Augustine region, with a focus on family law matters including divorce, mediation, and child support. The firm’s approach centers on protecting each client’s actual interests rather than prolonging conflict, which matters enormously in enforcement situations where the goal is simple: getting your children the financial support they are legally owed.

Child support enforcement cases often require both firm legal action and careful strategy. Moving too aggressively can provoke unnecessary litigation and delay. Moving too slowly allows arrears to accumulate and lets a noncompliant parent grow comfortable ignoring their obligations. The firm’s experience in Broward County’s family court system, including the procedures at the Broward County Courthouse on SE 6th Street, means clients get guidance that reflects how enforcement cases actually move through that courthouse, not a generic overview of how Florida law works in theory.

Common Child Support Enforcement Situations in Fort Lauderdale

• Wage garnishment and income withholding: Florida law requires income withholding orders in most child support cases, but if the paying parent changes employers or begins working as an independent contractor, enforcement may require updating the withholding order and locating new income sources through legal discovery tools.
• Contempt of court proceedings: When a parent willfully refuses to pay despite having the financial means, a motion for contempt can result in sanctions, fines, or in cases of serious noncompliance, a court-ordered jail sentence until past-due amounts are addressed.
• Driver’s license and professional license suspension: Florida’s Department of Revenue can work with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to suspend a nonpaying parent’s driver’s license, as well as certain occupational and professional licenses, creating significant leverage to restart payments.
• Passport denial and federal enforcement: When arrears reach a threshold set by federal guidelines, cases can be referred to federal agencies that block passport issuance or renewal, which is particularly effective for parents who travel internationally for work or personal reasons.
• Liens on property and bank accounts: Outstanding support obligations can be converted into liens against real property, and bank account levies can intercept funds directly, including tax refunds through Florida’s tax refund intercept program.
• Interstate enforcement under UIFSA: When the nonpaying parent has relocated out of Florida, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) provides a framework for registering and enforcing the Florida order in the state where they now live, though the procedural steps are more involved than a standard in-state case.
• Modification vs. enforcement disputes: Paying parents sometimes respond to enforcement actions by filing for a modification, claiming a change in circumstances. Understanding whether the modification claim is legitimate or a delay tactic is critical to protecting the amount owed and any accrued arrears.

What to Do When Child Support Payments Stop

The moment payments stop or become irregular, start documenting everything. Note every missed payment date, every partial payment received, and any communications from the other parent about their financial situation. Courts and enforcement agencies need a clear record of what is owed, and gaps in documentation create unnecessary disputes over the total arrears amount.

In Florida, child support is enforced through two parallel systems: the private legal system and the Florida Department of Revenue’s Child Support Program. The Department of Revenue offers enforcement services to qualifying parents at no direct cost, but the process can be slower and less responsive to complex situations than working with a private Fort Lauderdale child support attorney. If you already have a Department of Revenue case open, a private attorney can work alongside that process or take over enforcement entirely depending on your circumstances.

Enforcement actions in Broward County are handled through the Family Division of the Broward County Circuit Court, located at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Filing a motion for contempt or a motion to enforce requires specific documentation: a certified copy of the original support order, a detailed accounting of all payments received and missed, and often a proposed order for the judge to sign. Missing any of these elements can result in delays or a hearing that does not produce the outcome you need.

One of the most common mistakes custodial parents make is waiting too long to act. Florida does not have a statute of limitations that eliminates child support arrears, but delay allows interest to compound in confusing ways and can make collection practically harder if the paying parent dissipates assets or changes financial circumstances. Acting promptly after payments stop is almost always better than waiting to see if the situation resolves itself. Another mistake is accepting informal verbal promises from the other parent without memorializing anything in writing or through the court. Informal payment plans are not enforceable, and accepting them can sometimes complicate a later contempt motion.

How Florida Calculates and Treats Unpaid Child Support Arrears

Florida child support orders are calculated using the Income Shares Model, which considers the gross incomes of both parents, the number of overnights each parent has, and specific expenses like health insurance premiums and child care costs. When a parent falls behind, the unpaid amount becomes a judgment debt that accrues interest under Florida law. That interest compounds over time and cannot be waived or reduced by the court, only the principal arrears can be subject to modification in certain very limited circumstances.

Courts in Broward County take the view that child support arrears represent money that belonged to the children, not to the custodial parent. That framing matters practically because it affects how judges treat requests for forgiveness or reduction of past-due amounts. A parent who simply chose not to pay, even if they now claim financial hardship, faces an uphill road in asking the court to reduce what they owe. Documented evidence of genuine inability to pay, not just unwillingness, is what courts actually look for when considering any adjustment to arrears.

For custodial parents in Fort Lauderdale, understanding that arrears are treated as a standing judgment also means understanding the collection tools available. Beyond wage garnishment and bank levies, the Florida Department of Revenue can intercept state tax refunds, lottery winnings, and workers’ compensation settlements. In some cases, enforcement reaches assets that people assume are protected, including certain business accounts or income from rental properties. Working with a child support enforcement lawyer in Fort Lauderdale means having someone who knows which collection tools apply to the paying parent’s specific financial situation and how to deploy them effectively.

Questions About Child Support Enforcement in Fort Lauderdale

What is the fastest way to enforce a child support order in Florida?

Wage garnishment through an income withholding order is typically the most direct method when the paying parent is employed. The order goes directly to the employer and requires payroll to withhold the support amount from each paycheck. For self-employed parents or those with irregular income, contempt proceedings combined with property liens tend to be the most effective combination.

Can my co-parent go to jail for not paying child support in Florida?

Yes. Florida courts can hold a nonpaying parent in contempt of court, and willful nonpayment can result in incarceration. The key word is “willful.” The paying parent must have had the ability to pay and chosen not to. If the court finds that contempt is warranted, it will typically set a purge amount, a lump sum the parent must pay to avoid or end jail time. This mechanism is often effective at producing immediate payments from parents who have been avoiding their obligations.

How much in arrears does a parent have to be before enforcement actions begin?

There is no minimum threshold required before you can file for enforcement in Florida. Even one missed payment creates grounds for a motion to enforce. Certain state and federal remedies, like passport denial, kick in at specific dollar thresholds, but private enforcement through the courts can begin as soon as a payment is missed and remains unpaid.

What happens to child support enforcement if the paying parent moves to another state?

The Florida order remains valid and enforceable. Under UIFSA, which every U.S. state has adopted, you can register the Florida order in the state where the paying parent now lives and use that state’s enforcement mechanisms against them. Alternatively, Florida can work directly with the other state’s child support agency. The process takes longer than in-state enforcement but is not an obstacle that eliminates your ability to collect.

Does the Florida Department of Revenue handle enforcement for free?

The Florida Department of Revenue’s Child Support Program does provide enforcement services at no direct cost to custodial parents who qualify. However, the program manages thousands of cases and may not move as quickly as a private attorney on your specific situation. For straightforward garnishment cases, the DOR may be sufficient. For complex situations involving self-employed parents, interstate issues, business assets, or a paying parent who is actively hiding income, private legal representation is typically faster and more targeted.

Can child support arrears be reduced or forgiven by the court?

Courts in Florida have very limited authority to retroactively reduce child support arrears. As a general rule, once support is owed, it is owed. A paying parent can ask for a prospective modification if their financial circumstances have genuinely changed, but past-due amounts are not easily eliminated. There are narrow procedural arguments in some cases, but they are exceptions, not the rule, and they require specific factual circumstances to even be considered.

What if the paying parent claims they lost their job and cannot pay?

A job loss does not automatically suspend child support obligations. The paying parent must file a formal petition for modification with the court and demonstrate a substantial, involuntary change in circumstances. Until the court modifies the order, the existing order remains fully in force and arrears continue to accumulate. If you receive notice of a modification petition while you are also trying to enforce the order, responding quickly with legal help is critical to protecting both the enforcement action and the total amount owed.

How does the court calculate interest on unpaid child support in Florida?

Unpaid child support in Florida accrues interest at the statutory judgment interest rate, which adjusts periodically based on market conditions set by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. The interest accrues on each unpaid installment from the date it was due. Over months or years, this can add meaningfully to the total amount owed. Courts include the interest calculation in any final accounting, and it cannot be waived by agreement between the parties without judicial approval.

Can I enforce child support if I never went through the court system and only had a private agreement with the other parent?

A private agreement, even a written one, is not enforceable as a court order. To use Florida’s enforcement mechanisms, including wage garnishment, contempt, and license suspension, you need a court-issued child support order. If you have only a private agreement, the first step is establishing a formal order through the family court, which then puts all the enforcement tools in play going forward. A child support attorney in Fort Lauderdale can help you convert an informal arrangement into an enforceable order.

How long does a child support enforcement case typically take in Broward County?

A wage garnishment order, once the proper motion is filed and the paying parent’s employer is identified, can be put in place relatively quickly. Contempt hearings in Broward County’s family division typically require scheduling a hearing date, which depends on the court’s docket. More complex enforcement matters involving locating hidden assets, interstate issues, or contested modification filings can take several months. Working with an attorney familiar with Broward County’s scheduling procedures helps avoid unnecessary delays.

Serving Fort Lauderdale and Surrounding Broward County Communities

Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. represents child support enforcement clients throughout Fort Lauderdale and the communities that make up Broward County’s diverse residential landscape. From the Tarpon River and Sailboat Bend neighborhoods through Victoria Park and Colee Hammock, and into the beachside communities of Fort Lauderdale Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, the firm is positioned to help families across the city. Clients from Plantation, Davie, Cooper City, and Pembroke Pines regularly work with the firm, as do families in Miramar, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, and Dania Beach to the south. To the north, the firm serves clients from Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs, Margate, Coconut Creek, and Tamarac. The firm also extends its family law representation to clients in the Weston and Southwest Ranches communities, as well as Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, and Lauderhill. In addition to the Fort Lauderdale area, Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. serves families in the St. Augustine and St. Johns County area, offering the same focused family law counsel to clients navigating child support enforcement in northeast Florida.

Fort Lauderdale Child Support Enforcement Attorney Ready to Help

When a child support order is not being honored, the impact lands on your family every single month. Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. works with custodial parents in Fort Lauderdale who are done waiting and ready to use every legal tool available to collect what their children are owed. Whether you need a wage garnishment order enforced, a contempt motion filed, or a strategy for collecting from a parent who has moved out of state, a Fort Lauderdale child support enforcement attorney at this firm can lay out your options clearly and take action that moves your case forward. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and get a direct answer about what enforcement looks like in your specific situation.