Child Support Changes Are On The Way

This summer, a bill was passed which drastically changes the way child support is calculated in Florida.  Among other changes to the child support laws, the secondary or non-residential parent will now be given credit for each overnight he/she has with the child(ren) over 20% per year (only 73 overnights).  This is radical change from the law as it currently is written which allows a reduction in a parent’s child support obligation when they exercise over 40% of the overnights (146).  As one can tell, it will not be very difficult for the non-residential parent to exercise this new “substantial” amount of parenting time.  For example, a common time-sharing or visitation schedule of every other weekend from Friday through Monday morning would already be 78 overnights; and this does not even take into consideration additional parenting time during the holidays, summers, etc.  I think the Legislature wants the money to flow with the children.  This should also remedy parents who request additional overnights (for instance during the week) just so they can achieve 40% of the overnights and thus get a reduction in child support.