Child Support

Boca Raton Child Support Lawyer

The family courts of Florida have a legal obligation to always preserve the best interests of any children affected by the court’s rulings. Florida state law upholds that a child is entitled to financial support from both of their parents in equal measure, and family court judges generally uphold that children benefit most from equal access to both of their parents. When married parents divorce or when unmarried parents decide to live as separate single parents, they must resolve custody of their children through the family court, and this almost always leads to a child support determination as well.

Need Help with Child Support? Whether you need to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you. Contact us today at (888) 445-2318 for a free consultation.

Legal Counsel for Boca Raton, FL, Child Support Disputes

Whether you are bracing for a complex, multifaceted divorce, a standalone child custody determination, or returning to family court to adjust your current child support terms, the right Boca Raton child support attorney can be an incredible asset as you navigate these contentious proceedings. Johnson O’Keefe has years of experience representing Boca Raton clients in the family court system, and our team is confident in our ability to address the unique aspects of your case.

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Understanding Child Custody & Support in Boca Raton

When parents go to Boca Raton family court for child custody or support, it’s crucial to understand the process. Every parent wants as much time as possible with their child, but personal conflicts can sometimes interfere with custody decisions. Unfortunately, some parents even use their children as leverage, which can cause lasting harm.

If you are divorcing or need a legally binding custody and support order, remember that the court’s primary concern is the child’s best interests. No matter how strong your argument, the judge has the final say and must consider several key factors under Florida law:

Parental Fitness: If one parent poses a risk due to criminal behavior, abuse, or addiction, the judge will award custody to the more capable parent. The noncustodial parent will then be responsible for child support.
Financial Support Calculation: The judge assesses the child’s living expenses and splits the total cost between both parents. A noncustodial parent with little visitation may owe more support than one with joint custody.
Custody Terms & Support: Custody arrangements directly impact support obligations. The less time a parent has with their child, the more they may have to contribute financially.

Key Aspects of Florida Child Custody

Physical Custody: Determines where the child primarily resides and their visitation schedule. One parent may have sole custody, or both may share time equally.
Legal Custody: Grants decision-making rights for major aspects of the child’s life, typically shared if both parents are deemed fit.
Financial Support: The parent with less physical custody usually pays child support to ensure the child’s well-being.

Both parents must provide accurate financial records and may present testimony, witnesses, and character references. In the end, the judge makes the final decision on custody rights and support obligations.

Modifying Child Support Orders

Life circumstances change, and sometimes a child support order needs to be adjusted. Florida law allows parents to request a modification under certain conditions.

Reasons to Modify Child Support

A parent may request a modification if there is:

Job loss or income change – If a parent loses their job or experiences a significant change in income, they may need to adjust child support.
Relocation – Moving to another state or a different part of Florida can impact support obligations.
Remarriage – While remarriage alone doesn’t change support, new financial responsibilities may be considered.
Medical issues – If the child or a parent develops a serious health condition, support may need to be adjusted.

How to Request a Modification

A parent must file a petition with the court explaining why a change is necessary.
They must provide proof of the changed circumstances, such as pay stubs, medical bills, or job termination notices.
The court will review the case and decide if the modification is substantial, permanent, and involuntary before approving any changes.

Protect Your Rights & Your Child’s Future! Don’t navigate child support issues alone. Contact us at (888) 445-2318 to speak with a dedicated Boca Raton child support lawyer.

Enforcing Child Support in Florida

When a parent fails to pay child support, Florida has strict enforcement measures to ensure the child’s needs are met.

Consequences of Non-Payment

Wage garnishment – The court can deduct support payments directly from a parent’s paycheck.
License suspension – Florida may suspend the non-paying parent’s driver’s or professional license.
Contempt of court – A parent could face fines or even jail time for repeated non-payment.

Steps to Enforce Child Support

The custodial parent can file a petition for enforcement in court.
The Florida Department of Revenue helps enforce payments through wage garnishment or tax refund interception.
A family law attorney can assist in taking legal action to recover unpaid child support.

How Child Support is Calculated in Florida

Florida uses a standard formula to determine child support based on both parents’ incomes and the child’s needs.

Key Factors in Calculation

Each parent’s income – Salaries, bonuses, and self-employment earnings are considered.
Healthcare and education costs – Expenses like insurance, medical bills, and school fees impact payments.
Custody arrangements – The more time a parent spends with the child, the lower their financial obligation may be.

Florida courts ensure child support is fair and meets the child’s needs while considering both parents’ financial situations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Child Support in Florida

Can parents agree on a child support amount without going to court?

Does child support automatically stop when my child turns 18?

Can child support be used for anything other than basic necessities?

What happens if the paying parent moves to another state?

Can child support be reduced if I have another child?

Do I still have to pay child support if I lose my job?

Can I stop paying child support if the other parent won’t let me see my child?

“Johnson O'Keefe is #1 for supporting families.”

Johnson O’Keefe has the greatest Attorneys and staff in Colorado State. I recommend every family to choose this Law Firm. Attorney Genet Johnson and Myles Johnson has profound knowledge of the Law, and they can help individuals to have balance, peace of mind, avoid issues, assist with problems, work on important aspects of communication/listening, each solution carefully crafted, negotiate, prompted responding, support their clients, manage day to day operations, efficient, professional, prepare in a timely matter, reliable, trust worthy, explain everything before proceeding, dedicated, and patience.

– Cierra

“Professional, caring, organized.”

Amazing law firm. They will represent your best interests! They communicate well with you and are straight forward with everything from rates to the legal process. Myles Johnson is a experienced, knowledgeable, well-versed in the laws as they pertain in each county throughout the State of Colorado. As a client, I highly recommend Johnson O’Keefe!!

– Caleb

“Very professional, and caring.”

Helped me through a difficult divorce and made what I thought was going to be an impossible process so much easier. Everything was handled well, they listened to all my concerns, and responded in a timely manner. I would highly recommend using Johnson O’Keefe, they are amazing!

– Sonja

“Myles Johnson is an excellent divorce attorney – the Best of the Best!”

I HIGHLY recommend him and his legal team of paralegals and staff because I had a great experience with them. Myles is smart and savvy and fully committed to his clients as an attorney and mediator. He represented me in my divorce and when we went to court his talent and expertise rose to the top giving me confidence and inspiration during this hardship. I am so glad I had Johnson O’Keefe at my side! It made my divorce a little bit easier knowing this group had my back and worked hard to get me what was fair and equitable with the utmost care and concern for me as a client and most importantly as an individual.

– M.J.

“Myles is genuine and professional, and I could not recommend him enough.”

Myles was excellent during my divorce and custody case. I had a very high-stress, and complicated situation, and not only was he efficient, but he kept me at ease throughout the entire process.

– Former Client

“Johnson O'Keefe and in particular Elizabeth Gregory was phenomenal with their representation of my case.”

I was in a very difficult custody/child support dispute with my ex-spouse. Working with her was such a wonderful experience, kept our goals at the top of every conversation, knew all points and avenues that we could take, never lead us in the wrong direction They worked tirelessly on my case and the outcome was exactly what I expected! I would recommend this firm to anyone who is going through a family law issue.

– Liz

“My goals and the safety of my children were always the priority to the JOK team.”

I called Johnson Law Group extremely frustrated and stressed with the process of my custody case. From the consultation to every conversation after, Elizabeth went out of her way to make sure that i was comfortable with all the matters and decisions. I highly recommend Elizabeth and the whole Johnson O’Keefe team to anyone going through custody matters. Elizabeth, Cassidy, and Paola were amazing, and made me feel like i was a friend, not just a client. I would happily use them again if needed.

– Patricia

“Myles was firm and consistent while being very professional with the opposition.”

Myles and his firm did an excellent job on my case. He helped me settle a financial dispute with my ex-wife concerning my retirement income. Myles was a good communicator and responded to questions and concerns promptly. I will definitely call him if I am ever in need of a lawyer.

– Rob

How Your Attorney Can Help

If you are required to pay child support, it is vital to adhere closely to the terms of your support order. Any violation of your child support obligations could lead to contempt of court and/or criminal prosecution. In addition, if you are owed child support from a co-parent, it’s vital to know how to address any incomplete, late, or refused payments as efficiently as possible.

When you choose Johnson O’Keefe to represent you in a child support determination, our goal is to help you reach the fairest possible outcome to the case that ensures your child has the support they need from both of their parents. Child support may also fluctuate over time as a child’s needs change or as the parents’ financial situations change. For example, if you are required to pay child support but unexpectedly lose your job or suffer an injury, these events could influence your ability to meet your support obligation.

A Boca Raton child support attorney can help a client secure favorable terms in an initial support determination and provide ongoing legal counsel if the parent must return to court later to request a modification. The Florida family court allows a parent to make reasonable changes to their child support terms in certain circumstances. If you need assistance resolving any custody dispute in the Boca Raton, FL, area, Johnson O’Keefe can provide the compassionate and responsive legal counsel you need to approach this difficult case with greater confidence.

Contact Johnson O’Keefe today and schedule a free consultation with a Boca Raton child support attorney you can trust to guide you through your case.

Individualized Attention

Just as each family is unique, so is each family legal matter. We always take the time to completely understand your situation so that we can tailor our advice and strategy accordingly.

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Our clients often take the time to write and thank us, not only for the results we have earned for them but also for the respect we’ve shown them.

Supportive Counsel

We never lose sight of the fact that divorce and other household conflicts can feel overwhelming. Our family lawyers will answer all of your questions to ease your burden in this difficult time.