I get a lot of phone calls from people who recently attended a hearing where their child support obligation was calculated — and no one bothered to explain what the numbers on the worksheet actually mean. This page walks through the Florida Child Support Guidelines Worksheet line by line so you can read your own.
The Statutory Framework
Florida child support is governed by Florida Statutes §61.30. The statute uses the “Income Shares” model, which attempts to estimate what the parents would have spent on the child had the family remained intact. That combined obligation is then divided between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes.
Line 1: Monthly Gross Income
Starts with gross monthly income from all sources — wages, self- employment, bonuses, commissions, disability, Social Security, pensions, interest and dividends, rental income, and other recurring income. Irregular income is averaged over a reasonable period.
Lines 2–3: Allowable Deductions & Monthly Net Income
Allowable deductions include:
- Federal, state and local income taxes
- FICA (Social Security and Medicare)
- Mandatory union dues
- Mandatory retirement payments
- Health insurance (not including coverage for the children)
- Court-ordered support paid for other children
- Spousal support paid or received pursuant to a court order
Gross income minus allowable deductions equals net monthly income. This is line 3.
Line 4: Combined Net Income
Add both parents' net monthly incomes. This is the combined figure the statute uses to look up a base child support obligation.
Line 5: Each Parent's Percentage Share
Divide each parent's net income by the combined net income. The result is that parent's percentage share of the total obligation.
Line 6: Minimum Child Support Need
Using Florida Statutes §61.30(6) — the Child Support Guidelines Schedule — look up the minimum support need for the combined net income and number of children.
Line 7: Each Parent's Share of the Minimum Need
Multiply line 6 by each parent's percentage from line 5.
Lines 8–10: Child-Care & Health Insurance
Add monthly work-related child care costs and the child's portion of health insurance premiums to the base obligation. Each parent's share of these expenses is based on the percentages in line 5.
Line 11: Adjustments for Substantial Time-Sharing
If each parent exercises at least 20% (73 overnights) of the overnights, a gross-up formula applies that increases the base obligation by 150% and credits each parent for the time the child is in their home. This is where having experienced counsel matters — small changes in overnights produce significant changes in support.
Line 12: Final Monthly Child Support Obligation
After all adjustments, one parent pays the other the amount on line 12 each month. This is a net number — it already accounts for shared expenses.
Try the Calculator
Our free Florida Child Support Calculator walks through a simplified version of this math. For a binding calculation for your case, call 904-858-4334 or contact me online.