What Is The Average Monthly Child Support Payment In Florida?

When parents with children end their relationship, that one will be required to pay child support is a given outcome. What that payment looks like, however, will differ depending on a couple’s circumstances. It’s hard to know what the average child support payment in Florida is, as this data isn’t readily available to the public. According to the U.S. Census, the average monthly payment in the U.S., however, is around $441 a month. Of course, this number will need to be adjusted every year based on inflation, but it can give soon-to-be divorced parents a better idea of what they could be expected to pay in child support when their divorce is finalized.

Florida Doesn’t Disclose Average Child Support Amounts 

In Florida, child support payments are handled by the Florida Department of Revenue. This agency does not, however, disclose the average child support payment in the state. It has, however, revealed that it is responsible for sending payments to more than one million children for a total of $1.6 billion every year. These numbers are significant and provide a clearer picture of the scale of the child support system in Florida.

Florida’s Baseline Child Support Amounts 

Florida child support payments are calculated according to the state’s support guidelines. These guidelines include baseline monthly child support amounts that are dependent on the combined net incomes of both parents and the number of children being supported. This table basically determines the minimum amount of support required in a particular case. For instance, in 2024, a couple with one child who have a combined income of $800 would have a minimum support requirement of $190 per month. As the number of children or a couple’s income increases, however, so does the amount needed for their support. For example, with a combined income of $5,000, the minimum child support payment for one child would be $1,000 a month.

Adjusting the Baseline Amount 

The aforementioned payment amounts are only the baseline, which means that courts can adjust them based on other factors, such as:

• A child’s healthcare and medical expenses;
• Childcare costs;
• The number of overnight visits the child has with each parent;
• The child’s age, needs, and standard of living; and
• Whether the child has a physical or mental disability.

These adjustments make it very difficult to calculate the average child support payment in Florida, but the baseline standard can help give parents a general ballpark figure of their potential financial obligations. Of course, parents can also reach out to an attorney for a better idea of what they could owe in child support.

How Much Could You Owe in Child Support? 

For a clearer picture of what you or your soon-to-be former spouse could owe in child support once your divorce is finalized, please call 954-945-7591 and set up a meeting with experienced Fort Lauderdale child support attorney Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. today. We can walk you through how the state calculates child support and what details from your own family’s financial situation could necessitate an increase or decrease in that amount.

Sources: 

census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/factsheets/2022/demo/p70fs-185.pdf

floridarevenue.com/opengovt/Pages/quick_facts.aspx