Child support is a major issue when when filing for divorce with dependent minor children. Much like determining alimony and dividing the marital property, determining child support can be highly contentious and even overwhelming for those who have made the decision to file for divorce. Thankfully, child support is pretty formulaic – there isn’t as much room for the back and forth argument that you often find in other family law issues, because the awards for child support are largely controlled by your net income and Federal guidelines.

The purpose of this article is to give you a basic overview of how child support works in Florida. I am a family law attorney who practices in Sarasota County, so the information provided here will be especially relevant to residents of Sarasota County. We fall into the jurisdiction of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of the State of Florida.

First of all, it’s important to explain Continue reading →

Much like the division of property upon a divorce, alimony is often a huge concern when filing for divorce in Florida.

Alimony, which is also known as “maintenance” or “spousal support” was at one point only awarded to the wife. This was based on the traditional common law role of the husband, which created a lifetime obligation for the husband to provide for the wife. Modern Florida statutes have abolished those antiquated common law rules, and the Supreme Court has ruled that states may not assign marital rights based on gender. So in today’s world alimony can just as easily be awarded to a husband as it can to a wife.

The modern rules of alimony in the state of Florida are governed Continue reading →