A More Cooperative Way to Reach an Agreement
When parents separate or divorce, few issues are more important than making sure their children are financially supported while creating an arrangement that works for both households.
Florida has statutory child support guidelines, but calculating child support involves more than simply choosing a dollar amount. Parents must consider income, time-sharing, health insurance, childcare expenses, uncovered medical expenses, and other circumstances affecting their children.
For parents who are willing to work together, child support mediation can provide a more cooperative way to address these issues without turning every disagreement into a courtroom battle.
At Peacemaker Mediation Group, our role is neutral. We do not represent either parent or advocate for one parent’s financial position over the other’s. Instead, we help parents communicate, identify the issues that must be resolved, exchange necessary information, and work toward agreements that can be properly documented as part of their Florida family law matter.
Key Takeaways
- Florida child support is generally determined under the guidelines contained in Florida Statute § 61.30.
- Both parents’ incomes are relevant to the calculation.
- The number of overnights each parent has with the children can affect child support.
- Childcare, health insurance and certain medical expenses may also affect the calculation.
- Parents may address child support together through mediation rather than litigating every disputed issue.
- Child support agreements remain subject to Florida law and court approval.
- Existing child support arrangements may sometimes be modified when circumstances materially change.
- Mediation allows parents to discuss child support alongside the parenting plan and other issues affecting their children.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Florida?
Florida uses statutory child support guidelines under Florida Statute § 61.30.
The calculation generally begins with each parent’s income and allowable deductions to determine net monthly income. The parents’ combined net income is then used with Florida’s child support guidelines to determine the basic support obligation.
Other expenses and the parenting arrangement may then affect the calculation.
1. Determine Each Parent’s Income
Florida’s child support statute defines income broadly.
Depending upon the circumstances, income can include such sources as:
- Salary or wages
- Bonuses and commissions
- Overtime and tips
- Self-employment or business income
- Disability benefits
- Workers’ compensation benefits
- Certain retirement or pension payments
- Rental income
- Interest and dividends
- Other recurring sources of income
Certain allowable deductions are then considered in determining each parent’s net income for child support purposes.
Accurate financial information from both parents is therefore an important part of the process.
2. Determine the Basic Child Support Obligation
Once the parents’ combined net monthly income is determined, Florida’s statutory child support guidelines are used to establish the basic child support need.
Each parent’s percentage share is generally based upon that parent’s proportion of the parents’ combined net monthly income.
For example, if one parent earns a greater percentage of the combined net income, that parent’s proportional share of the support obligation will generally be greater.
The ultimate calculation, however, can be affected by several additional factors.
How Does Time-Sharing Affect Florida Child Support?
Time-sharing and child support are related, but they are separate issues.
Florida law currently provides a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in a child’s best interests unless the presumption is overcome under the standards established by Florida law.
That does not mean that equal time-sharing automatically eliminates child support.
When a child spends a substantial number of overnights with each parent, Florida’s child support statute contains an adjusted calculation designed to recognize that both households incur expenses while caring for the child.
For purposes of this calculation, Florida law defines a “substantial amount of time” as a parent exercising at least 20% of the overnights during the year.
This is one reason it is helpful to address the parenting plan and child support together. The actual time-sharing schedule can directly affect the financial calculation.
What Other Expenses Can Affect Child Support?
The basic guideline amount is not necessarily the end of the calculation.
Depending upon the family’s circumstances, additional expenses may need to be considered.
Childcare
Qualifying childcare expenses associated with employment, job search, education intended to lead to employment, or education designed to enhance current income may be added to the basic child support obligation as provided by Florida law.
Health Insurance
The cost of providing health insurance for the children may be included in the child support calculation when applicable.
Uncovered Medical Expenses
Parents also need to address responsibility for expenses that insurance does not cover, which may include medical, dental and prescription medication expenses.
A well-drafted agreement should make clear not only the monthly child support amount but also who pays these additional expenses, how they are divided, and how parents will reimburse one another when necessary.
Can Parents Agree on Child Support Through Mediation?
Yes, parents can use mediation to work toward an agreement concerning child support.
However, child support is different from some other financial issues in a divorce because it is intended for the benefit of the child and remains subject to Florida’s child support laws and court approval.
Florida’s guideline calculation therefore provides an important starting point.
The value of mediation is not that parents can simply choose any child support number they want. Rather, mediation gives parents an opportunity to understand the financial information, discuss the guideline calculation, address additional expenses, and work toward an agreement without immediately asking a judge to resolve every disagreement.
Can Florida Child Support Differ From the Guideline Amount?
Florida’s child support guidelines presumptively establish the appropriate amount of support.
Florida law permits a court to vary the guideline amount by plus or minus 5% after considering relevant circumstances. A variation greater than 5% requires written findings explaining why the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate.
The statute identifies a number of circumstances that may be relevant to a deviation.
Rather than assuming that a deviation applies, parents considering an amount different from the guideline calculation should understand why the deviation is being proposed and whether it complies with Florida law.
When parents reach an agreement through mediation, the agreed terms can be documented for submission to the court for approval.
Why Financial Transparency Matters
Meaningful child support discussions require reliable financial information.
Parents should be prepared to provide the financial documents necessary to establish income and the expenses relevant to the children.
Depending upon the circumstances, that information may include:
- Recent pay statements
- Tax returns
- Documentation of self-employment or business income
- Health insurance costs attributable to the children
- Childcare expenses
- Uncovered medical expenses
- Information regarding other income sources
Mediation works best when both parents are willing to exchange the information necessary to make informed decisions.
If one parent is concealing income or refusing to provide meaningful financial information, additional legal procedures may be necessary before a reliable child support agreement can be reached.
Why Address Child Support and the Parenting Plan Together?
Parents sometimes approach time-sharing and child support as completely separate negotiations.
In reality, they can affect one another.
A parenting plan establishes where the children will spend their time, how parents will make important decisions, how exchanges will occur, how holidays and school breaks will be handled, and other practical details of co-parenting.
The number of overnights created by that schedule can also affect the child support calculation.
Addressing these issues together allows parents to focus on the actual arrangement their family will follow, rather than negotiating a financial number without considering how the children will divide their time between households.
What Should a Child Support Agreement Address?
A comprehensive agreement should provide more than a monthly dollar amount.
Depending upon the circumstances, parents may need to address:
- Monthly child support
- Beginning date for payments
- Method of payment
- Time-sharing and annual overnights
- Health insurance for the children
- Uncovered medical, dental and prescription expenses
- Childcare costs
- Responsibility for agreed extracurricular expenses
- Tax-related issues when appropriate
- Changes as children reach the age when support terminates
- Procedures for communicating about expenses and reimbursement
Clearly documenting these responsibilities can reduce misunderstandings after the divorce.
Can Existing Child Support Be Modified Through Mediation?
Changes happen after divorce.
A parent’s income may substantially increase or decrease. Childcare expenses may end or increase. Health insurance may change. A parenting schedule may change significantly. A child’s needs may also change.
Florida law provides mechanisms for modifying child support when the applicable legal requirements are satisfied.
Parents who agree that circumstances have changed can use mediation to discuss a proposed modification rather than immediately litigating the issue.
Importantly, simply reaching a private understanding does not necessarily modify an existing court order. Any agreed modification should be properly documented and submitted through the appropriate court process.
Is Child Support Mediation Confidential?
Florida provides significant confidentiality protections for mediation communications under the Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act, subject to statutory exceptions.
This allows parents to explore possible solutions and discuss settlement proposals in a private mediation setting.
It is important to understand, however, that confidentiality does not mean financial information can be concealed. Information that is otherwise discoverable does not become protected from discovery simply because it was discussed or used during mediation.
The goal is private problem-solving combined with meaningful financial transparency.
Why Consider Child Support Mediation?
Parents may disagree about money while still agreeing on something much more important: they want to make good decisions for their children.
Mediation provides a setting in which parents can move the conversation away from:
“What can I make the other parent pay?”
and toward:
“What do our children need, what does Florida law require, and how can we create an arrangement that works between our two households?”
A neutral mediator can help parents organize that discussion, identify areas of agreement and disagreement, and work toward terms both parents understand.
The parents—not the mediator—make the decisions.
Child Support Mediation With Peacemaker Mediation Group
At Peacemaker Mediation Group, we believe family disputes are often better resolved through civil discourse and informed decision-making than through unnecessary conflict.
We provide neutral divorce and family mediation for Florida couples who are willing to participate in good faith and work toward resolution.
During mediation, we can help parents address child support together with related issues such as:
- Parenting plans
- Time-sharing
- Children’s health insurance
- Childcare expenses
- Uncovered medical expenses
- Division of financial responsibilities
- Other issues affecting the children
When agreements are reached, the terms can be incorporated into the appropriate settlement and family law documents for filing with the court.
Our role is not to represent one parent against the other. Our role is to provide a neutral process in which both parents can communicate, understand the issues that must be resolved, and make informed decisions about their family’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Child Support Mediation
Do we have to agree on child support before coming to mediation?
No. Reaching agreement is the goal of mediation, not necessarily a prerequisite for beginning it. Parents can come to mediation with unresolved issues and work through them with the assistance of a neutral mediator.
Does 50/50 time-sharing mean nobody pays child support?
Not necessarily. Equal time-sharing does not automatically eliminate child support. The parents’ respective incomes, health insurance, childcare costs and other statutory factors can still result in a child support obligation.
Does Florida consider both parents’ incomes?
Yes. Florida’s child support guidelines consider both parents’ net monthly incomes and determine each parent’s percentage share of the combined income.
What happens when each parent has substantial overnight time?
Florida uses an adjusted calculation when a parent exercises at least 20% of the annual overnights. The calculation considers both parents’ income shares and the percentage of overnights exercised by each parent.
Can we simply agree that neither parent will pay child support?
Parents should not assume they can waive child support by private agreement. Child support is governed by Florida law and is subject to judicial review. The guideline calculation and the circumstances of the children and parents should be properly addressed.
Can we mediate a modification of an existing child support order?
Yes. When circumstances have changed, mediation may be used to negotiate an agreed modification. The modification must still satisfy applicable Florida law and should be properly submitted to the court rather than handled solely through an informal agreement between the parents.
What should we bring to child support mediation?
Parents should generally be prepared with reliable information concerning income, health insurance for the children, childcare expenses, relevant medical expenses and the proposed or existing time-sharing schedule. Additional financial information may be needed depending upon the circumstances.
A More Peaceful Approach to Child Support
Child support should not have to become a battle between parents.
The purpose is to provide for your children while establishing clear financial responsibilities between two households.
When both parents are willing to exchange necessary information and participate in good-faith discussions, mediation can provide a constructive way to reach those decisions.
Peacemaker Mediation Group helps Florida parents work toward child support, parenting and divorce agreements through neutral mediation and civil discourse—keeping the focus on resolution and the family’s future.