Brandon Child Support Attorney
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The kids are always the first priority, and they need the resources of both parents. Whether you are at the beginning of the divorce process or are looking for a modification of support based on changed circumstances, our family law attorneys are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
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Providing enthusiastic legal counsel with confidence, integrity, and compassion.
We promise to protect you and your family through life’s many legal challenges.
Our focus is on your family.
When your family law needs are divorce, custody, child support, alimony, or custody related, we’ve got you covered.
When your family law needs are Estate Planning, Probate, civil lawsuits, or even criminal matters, we’ve got you covered.
We promise caring and vigorous legal representation while respecting your time and wallet. You deserve the highest quality representation possible, and we offer that legal support and personal attention.
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Child Support
Divorcing or separating when you have kids can be difficult for the whole family. Your children might feel that their lives are disrupted and their world is changing. Along with the questions of custody and visitation, you are likely to face a number of financial issues. Getting divorced might mean finding somewhere new to live, and having a lower income. Child support is money paid from one parent to another for the purpose of assisting with the financial burden of raising a child. These funds are some of the most heavily contested items in many divorces, separations, or single parent situations.
Dealing with child support can be stressful and upsetting. We recognize that it’s a difficult matter to handle, which is why we are here to help. We will reassure you throughout the process of determining, modifying, or enforcing a support order.
Parents who are no longer together are reasonably justified in their concern over who pays child support and how much will be paid. Even though most parents want what is best for their kids, balancing a child’s welfare and the supporting parent’s ability to meet expectations can be challenging. Both issues are legitimate.
Brandon Legal Group represents parents in Child Support cases while defending the kids’ best interests and parents involved in upholding parental rights. It takes expertise to obtain custody, especially in contentious custody disputes.
What Child Support Is For
The goal of Child Support is to guarantee the child an adequate standard of living when parents no longer live together. The assistance may cover the following costs:
- food,
- clothing
- meals served in schools
- Tuition,
- uniforms,
- supplies,
- extracurricular activities,
- tutoring, and other educational costs
- Medical costs, such as deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, and uninsured care
- Activities outside of the classroom, such as summer camps, music lessons, and entertainment
An experienced lawyer in the area could decide how to correctly factor these costs into the child support calculation and ensure that all pertinent information is considered.
Child Support Considerations
Florida’s child support regulations set a minimum amount to be paid in child support. The amount is calculated using a variety of variables, including income levels, earning potential, the number of children, and others. After compiling and presenting evidence to the court, a Brandon Legal Group can suggest changing the child support calculator’s recommendation by up to 5% from the baseline. In addition, Brandon Legal Group is skilled at investigating and presenting data that could lead to further increases or decreases in the initial child support calculations.
Calculating Income
To calculate support, the parents’ combined monthly income must be considered. It is, therefore, crucial to accurately determine each parent’s income. Fourteen different types of payments are regarded as “income” for child support under Florida Statutes 61.30(2)(a), including:
- remuneration,
- bonuses,
- commissions,
- overtime, and tips
- business earnings
- Benefits for unemployment, social security, worker’s compensation, or disabilities
- support for the spouse from a prior union
- Dividends and interest
- Rental income or ongoing property gains
- income from estates, trusts, or royalties
It can be challenging to estimate a parent’s income accurately, mainly if the parent receives compensation from multiple sources, has complicated self-employment earnings, or makes an effort to conceal income. By looking at a parent’s tax returns, business records, and bank statements, the attorneys at Brandon Legal Group ensure that all sources are found.
What Happens If Only One Parent Is Working?
A court may impute income to a voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parent who is deliberately trying to have less income to inflate the other parent’s Child support obligation. In this case, a judge can determine the parent’s potential income by considering their most recent employment history, professional qualifications, and the salaries of people with comparable qualifications.
The burden of demonstrating that the other parent is voluntarily unemployed falls on the party asking for income imputation. The necessary evidence could be presented to a judge with the help of a child support attorney.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
To enforce child support orders, Florida courts employ a variety of strategies, including:
- suspending the parent’s professional or driver’s license for failing to pay
- placing the parent under court order for contempt, which may result in imprisonment
- securing a mortgage against the parent’s property
Taking child support out of a parent’s paycheck or diverting tax refunds to the parent receiving support is known as garnishing a parent’s earnings or refunds.
In Florida, there is no time limit on how long child support must be paid, so a parent may continue to pursue compliance even after their child turns 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is fatherhood (paternity) proven?
Before taking any further action when a child is born to unmarried parents, fatherhood must be established. The child’s purported father may voluntarily acknowledge that he is the child’s father (ren). A court hearing or paternity test is set for the case if he denies paternity. The alleged father, the child’s mother, and the child are all tested when a paternity test is required.
- How can child support be changed?
If your financial situation or the financial situation of the parent who owes support significantly changes after the support order is established, it may be modified. If you ask for a change, the sum will be recalculated following criteria established by Florida law. Typically, a court only receives a petition for modification when the guidelines indicate that the amount should increase by at least 15% or $50 per month, whichever is higher. There might be more limitations if this is an interstate case (involving another state). Even if the parent who owes support will pay less, we must see the process through to its conclusion once it has begun.
- What happens if the parent paying child support is out of state?
The Child Support Program collaborates with child support offices in other states when the parent who is owed support and the parent who is due support reside in different states. The child support enforcement office and court system of the referred state must be permitted to handle the case according to their respective timelines when this kind of case is sent there.
The United States and the State of Florida have also entered into international agreements with many other nations.
Debunking Child Support Myths
When parents share custody, no one pays child support.
There are certainly cases where this is true; however, in most cases, one parent is going to have some form of child support obligation. Child support assists both parents in bearing equal financial responsibility. Even when parents share joint custody, the children frequently spend more time with one parent than the other.
Child support payments are deductible on your tax return.
Child support payments have no impact on income taxes. This is because payments are not
deductible by the paying parent, and the receiving parent is not required to include them in income. In addition, child support payments do not affect the dependent exemption deduction. This is usually paid to the custodial parent but is independent of child support payments.
Child support ends at the age of 18.
There was a time when this was true. Recent changes in child support laws have rendered it
obsolete. The rules are much more complicated now. Child support is paid after the age of 18 in some cases. An example might be if the child has not reached their 18th birthday but is still in high school.
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We were able to have the spouse’s accounts frozen until he complied with the original terms of the Marital Settlement Agreement.
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WHO WE ARE
Full-service family law law firm serving the greater Brandon and Tampa area.
Lower your stress volume. When you place your family's legal matter in Brandon Legal Group's attorneys' hands, you are putting it in the hands of professionals deeply committed to helping you achieve the best possible outcome for your case and your family.
Whether divorce, Estate, Probate, or any of the legal challenges families face, We've Got You Covered.
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Some matters in Criminal, DUI, Bankruptcy, Estate planning, Personal Injury, VA Benefits, and Workers’ Compensation may be referred to an outside attorney
Meet Our Attorneys
Ingrid Hooglander
In 2008 after gaining years of experience under the watchful eyes of her predecessors, Ms. Hooglander opened her own private practice that has grown into what Brandon Legal Group is today.
Her weight lifting and Kick Boxing training contribute to a reputation as a "force of nature" in both her personal life and her presence in the court room.
Luke Mattson
Mr. Mattson found his niche in family law and has focused his practice in that area since 2000. In particular, Luke often handles matters involving divorce, timesharing, parenting plans, child support, alimony, paternity, and civil domestic violence.
Mr. Mattson might look like he’s all business, but you'd be surprised to discover the incredible fun loving attitude he brings to the practice. When outside the courtroom, Mr. Mattson can often be found watching Lightning games or riding his bike around downtown Tampa.
Brandon Legal Group More Client Reviews:
Ingrid is a gifted attorney with significant subject matter experience in family law matters. She has a ton of experience and is an expert in this practice area. She is a hard worker and puts clients first. She is able to gain exceptional results for her clients. Without hesitation I endorse Ingrid.
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