Coconut Creek Child Support Attorney

Attorney Jonny Kousa Has Represented Hundreds of Parents in Broward County’s Family Courts

Every child deserves financial support from both parents. Regardless of your income, you may be entitled to child support from the other parent, and if you’re the paying parent, you deserve a fair order that reflects your actual circumstances.

At The Law Offices of Jonny Kousa, P.L., our child support attorneys in Broward County are here to:

• Explain your rights and responsibilities
• Help you explore your options
• Help you pursue a fair child support order

Whether you’re seeking support or facing an obligation to pay, Attorney Jonny Kousa brings practitioner-level knowledge of Broward County family court procedures to every case. He has represented hundreds of individuals in highly contested family law matters before those courts, and our team provides the personalized guidance your situation requires.

Call The Law Offices of Jonny Kousa, P.L. today at (954) 626-8071 or contact us online to speak with our Coconut Creek child support attorneys.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Florida

Child support in Florida is governed by Florida Statute 61.30, which establishes the mandatory Income Shares Model. Rather than placing the full burden on one parent, this model estimates the total amount both parents would have spent on the child if the household had remained intact, then divides that obligation between them in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined net monthly income.

The guidelines consider the following factors:

• The income and earning capacity of each parent
• The existing or proposed custody arrangement
• The number of minor children involved
• The cost of daycare and health insurance each parent pays for the children

How Income & the Baseline Obligation Are Determined

Gross income under Florida Statute 61.30(2) is defined broadly and includes wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and rental income. Net income is calculated by subtracting allowable deductions: income taxes, health insurance premiums, and court-ordered support for other children. The combined net monthly income is then matched to the Basic Child Support Obligation table in the statute, which sets the baseline amount based on combined income and the number of children. Each parent’s share of that baseline is determined by dividing their net monthly income by the combined total and multiplying by the baseline obligation.

Add-Ons & Deviation Factors

Health insurance premiums paid for the child and work-related childcare costs are added to the base obligation and allocated between parents by income share, not split equally. Courts may adjust the calculated amount up or down by up to 5 percent without written findings. Deviations greater than 5 percent require a written explanation in the court order. Recognized deviation factors under Florida Statute 61.30(11) include extraordinary medical, psychological, or educational expenses and special needs costs.

When Does Child Support End in Florida?

Under normal circumstances, child support terminates when the child turns 18. There are three exceptions worth knowing:

• Support can continue past 18, up to age 19, if the child is still enrolled in high school and performing in good faith with a reasonable expectation of graduating before turning 19
• Support may continue indefinitely if the child has a disability or special needs that prevent self-support
• Florida courts don’t require parents to pay college tuition; funding post-secondary education is the paying parent’s decision, not a court-mandated obligation

If any of these situations applies to your family, speaking with an attorney can help you understand what to expect and how to prepare.

Can You Modify Child Support in Florida?

Many Florida parents don’t realize when circumstances justify a modification to their child support order. The court may modify an existing award when there has been a substantial change in circumstances that is material, unforeseen, and continuing in nature.

The 15 Percent or $50 Threshold

Under Florida Statute 61.30, the change must be large enough to alter the support obligation by at least 15 percent or $50, whichever is greater, before the guideline amount alone constitutes a substantial change. The most common grounds for modification are a significant shift in either parent’s income or a change in the amount of time each parent spends with the child. If you earn more or spend less time with your children, your obligation may increase. If you earn less or spend more time with them, you may qualify for a reduction.

The 73-Overnight Timesharing Threshold

One threshold that frequently surprises parents is found in Florida Statute 61.30(11)(b). Once the minority-time parent reaches at least 73 overnights per year, the court applies a timesharing adjustment formula that can materially shift the support amount in either direction. At that threshold, the base obligation is multiplied by 1.5 before being divided between parents by income share, because both homes are now maintaining space and resources for the child. The overnight count matters precisely: 72 nights and 73 nights produce meaningfully different financial outcomes under the statutory formula. If your timesharing arrangement is close to that line, getting an accurate picture from an attorney before filing anything can help you assess the financial impact.

50/50 Custody & Child Support in Florida

Equal custody doesn’t automatically eliminate the child support obligation. Unless both parties waive support, it may still be owed. As Florida Statute 61.13 provides: “An order for equal time-sharing for a minor child does not preclude the court from entering an order for child support of the child.”

Income disparity between parents is the primary driver of continued support obligations in equal timesharing cases. The goal is to equalize the financial environment in both homes so your child experiences a consistent standard of living regardless of which parent they’re with.

What Can Child Support Be Used For?

Child support payments must be used to support the child’s welfare, education, safety, and material well-being. Florida courts don’t look kindly on a parent who diverts those funds to finance their own lifestyle at the child’s expense. Beyond fixed expenses like healthcare, schooling, and transportation, the custodial parent has discretion to assess the child’s immediate needs and allocate funds accordingly.

Child Support Enforcement & Income Imputation in Florida

Florida takes child support enforcement seriously. If the other parent stops paying, you should speak with your family law attorney promptly. Florida judges may garnish wages, place liens on real property, intercept tax refunds, and suspend driver and professional licenses to enforce child support orders. In severe cases, a parent who fails to pay for a year or longer and owes $5,000 or more may face a third-degree felony charge. There is no statute of limitations on enforcement of child support judgments in Florida, meaning past-due amounts remain collectible even after the child reaches adulthood.

How Income Imputation Works

A parent can’t reduce or eliminate a child support obligation by voluntarily becoming unemployed or underemployed. When a court finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, it may impute income to that parent based on their work history, education, professional qualifications, and prevailing earning levels in the community. Florida Statute 61.30 constrains this process: a court may not impute income at a level the parent has never historically earned unless they have been recently degreed, licensed, or certified, with consideration given to geography and the existing timesharing schedule. Incarceration may not be treated as voluntary unemployment when establishing or modifying a support order. Enforcement actions can be initiated through the Broward County family courts, and unpaid support may also be directed through the Florida State Disbursement Unit, a centralized statewide collection and disbursement system.

Child Support for Unmarried Parents in Broward County

Child support cases in Florida arise not only from divorce proceedings but also from paternity actions involving parents who were never married. Before a Florida court can order child support for a child born outside of marriage, legal paternity must be established.

Paternity can be established voluntarily when both parents sign and file an Acknowledgment of Paternity, which is often completed at the hospital at the time of birth. If paternity is disputed, either parent may file a Petition to Establish Paternity with the Broward County Clerk of Courts, after which the court may order DNA testing. Once paternity is confirmed, the court can address child support, timesharing, and the parenting plan in the same proceeding. The Law Offices of Jonny Kousa, P.L. handles child support matters arising from both divorce and paternity proceedings, serving unmarried parents throughout Broward County.

What a Coconut Creek Child Support Attorney Can Do for You

Parents in Coconut Creek often have questions about local procedures and what to expect once a case is filed. Attorney Jonny Kousa regularly appears in the Broward County family courts, which operate under the 17th Judicial Circuit and handle child support matters through the Family Law Division. That familiarity with how local judges approach guidelines, deviations, and enforcement means we can help you prepare the financial documents the court will expect and anticipate issues before they arise.

When you work with our firm, you get help at every phase: initial support calculations, parenting plan negotiations that affect the support amount, modification petitions, and enforcement actions. Because child support is closely tied to timesharing and other family law issues, having a single legal team manage all of those matters can produce a more consistent strategy and better align with your long-term goals for your children and your financial stability.

Contact a Child Support Attorney Serving Coconut Creek & Broward County

At The Law Offices of Jonny Kousa, P.L., our child support attorneys can work closely with you to address the issues you’re facing. Whether you need to establish an order, pursue a fair support amount, or modify or enforce an existing order, we’re ready to help.

Contact The Law Offices of Jonny Kousa, P.L. at (954) 626-8071 or reach out online to speak with a Coconut Creek child support attorney today.