Florida Child Support Attorney
At the law firm of W. David Vaughn, Esq., I advise and represent divorcing parents and unmarried parents in family court matters involving child support. To get the advice of an experienced lawyer about your rights and responsibilities, contact my Jacksonville law office today.
Call 904-475-1646 for advice about paying or receiving child support
There's no real difference between divorce and paternity when it comes to calculating child support obligations. In both situations, payments are determined under the Florida Child Support Guidelines. The guidelines consider the incomes of both the mother and the father, the costs of insurance and child care, and the number of children.
The formula gives the parents and the court a very specific idea of how much one parent must pay the other, but additional factors can also be considered: obligations to other children outside of this relationship, commitments for care of an elderly parent or vulnerable relative, special needs or talents of a child, significant changes in income and other circumstances.
It's up to the parent who wants an upward or downward adjustment to the child support guidelines to show why any special factors justify a departure from the statutory amount. That's where the advice of an experienced attorney can help.
If the matter goes to court, the judge needs to first state what the child support payments should be under the guidelines, and then explain specific reasons why a different amount is ordered. With my lengthy experience with the negotiation and litigation of child support disputes, I can make sure that your strongest possible argument for or against the guideline payment amount is presented to the court.
I also handle modification and enforcement matters in Florida child support
If changed circumstances or payment defaults mean that you need to go to court for an order for modification or enforcement of an existing child support obligation, I can help you there, too. I also advise active duty military personnel about the child support complications that can result from misreading Leave and Earnings Statements.
For further information about my ability to protect your rights as a parent while helping you meet your obligations at every step from paternity testing to enforcement proceedings, contact the office of W. David Vaughn, Esq., in Jacksonville.