The short answer is no. But before you stop reading, it gets more complicated. If a sperm donor has a legal relationship with a child, they may have child support obligations. Parent vs. Donor Florida law differentiates between a parent and a donor. Parents have automatic rights unless there’s a reason to terminate those rights…. read more

Whether two parents may never get married or end up getting a divorce, they have a fundamental obligation to support their children financially. The obligation to support your child does not depend on whether you are the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent. You must pay your share of the financial support for your child… read more

When a child is young, child support makes sense. Parents must provide for their children. But at what point should your child become responsible for their own needs? If you are paying support for a child who has graduated high school, you may wonder whether the payments are still necessary. The answer to this question… read more

Florida child support laws dictate that each parent has a legal obligation to support their child financially. The legal obligation to provide financial support does not end when the child’s parents divorce or separate. Indeed, Florida child support guidelines tell us how much parents should pay to support their children when they separate or divorce…. read more

Parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support for their children. The obligation does not disappear if the parents get divorced or the parents never lived together. In fact, a parent does not have to live with a child or even have a relationship with that child to be financially liable for the child…. read more

Florida legislature enacted the Florida Child Support Guidelines, which courts follow when determining child support. Under the guidelines, each parent is responsible for the child’s financial support based on the Income Shares Model. According to the model, a child should receive the same portion of each parent’s income that they would have received if the… read more

Florida child support laws hold both parents responsible for the financial support of their children. This responsibility continues if the parents are no longer together. The State of Florida uses standard child support guidelines. The guidelines ensure that each parent pays his or her share of financial support. Child support is generally ordered during a… read more

When parents are married, they have a legal obligation to support their children. This responsibility remains even when the parents divorce. Both parents must continue to financially support the child until they turn 18-years-old. Sometimes, however, one parent may struggle financially and not be able to support the child. If this is the case, there… read more

Raising children after a divorce can be challenging for both parents. Even with joint custody, it is not always easy to make the arrangement function smoothly. There is also the financial side of being a parent. In Florida, both parents are legally obligated to support their child until the child becomes an adult. In the… read more

The incarceration of a parent can place tremendous stress on the family. While many aspects of the parent’s life are put on hold, child support obligations are not. Under Florida law, going to prison does not excuse a parent’s responsibility for child support payments. The only way to change existing child support is through a… read more