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At Ohle & Ohle. P.A., we can help you with a wide range of child support issues, including calculating accurate support amounts and enforcing payments. Your Port St. Lucie child support attorney will work hard to ensure that your children receive financial support so that their standard of living does not change after your relationship with your spouse ends.

When paternity must be established

When parents are married, Florida law assumes that the husband is the child’s father. However, unmarried parents must establish paternity before child support can be enacted. In most cases, a voluntary acknowledgement of a paternity form signed by the mother and father will suffice. If one parent refuses to sign the form, the mother’s or father’s Palm City child support lawyer can proceed with a court order to establish paternity.

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Guidelines for calculating child support in Florida

The State of Florida uses a strict formula based on several factors to calculate child support amounts. The gross income of each parent first must be determined, and then the costs of health care and child care are taken into consideration. The child’s standard needs, which are based on his or her age and the parents’ income, also are considered. The court additionally looks at the number of overnight visits for each parent. The state is fairly stringent in keeping with the formula, but special circumstances – like significant medical expenses – may warrant higher or lower support amounts. If a parent is self-employed, does not have a steady income or receives money from other sources, this also could complicate the calculations. In such cases, the judge will have to justify deviation from the formula in a written statement. The parents also are allowed to set support amounts that are higher or lower than the standard, as long as they both agree.

Establishing and enforcing financial support of children

Once child support guidelines are established, the parent who has the child support obligation is then legally obligated to pay the amount designated in the order. Those who fail to comply can be held in civil contempt, and the custodial parent can file a motion with the court to collect child support in various ways, including wage garnishment and liens on personal property.

Tough and experienced Stuart child support lawyers

Calculating child support is a complicated endeavor that should only be handled by the most skilled Palm City child support attorney. In addition to helping you establish and enforce initial child support, family lawyer Leanne L. Ohle can help protect your interests and those of your children when one parent’s financial circumstances later change. Contact our Treasure Coast child support attorneys today to set up your consultation.

Why Choose Ohle & Ohle?
“Leeane was a godsend through 4 years of a highly contentious paternity and custody case. She kept me well informed and was readily available to calm me down and answer my questions. She stayed honest with me about my options throughout all the ups and downs, always looking out for my best interest & the best interest of my child. I couldn’t ask for a better attorney by my side through such a difficult and painful process.”
~ Luis Machado, Google Reviewer
Unlike many large, high-volume firms, we’ll treat you like an individual, and with compassion and understanding. Whether you’re facing criminal charges, going through a divorce or injured in an accident, what you need most right now is someone who will listen and provide you with the best possible representation throughout your unique case.
Several law firms from West Palm Beach claim to specialize in Treasure Coast cases, when in fact they don’t even have an office here. Leanne and Michael Ohle were born and raised in the Treasure Coast, and know the ins and outs of its legal system. We have offices in Fort Pierce and Stuart, and can come to you, depending on the situation.
The attorneys at Ohle & Ohle have proudly served Fort Pierce, Stuart, Port St. Lucie and the rest of the Treasure Coast for the past 48 years. We pride ourselves on our deep-rooted, strong ties to the community, which we believe gives us a clear advantage over our non-local competitors.
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(772) 460-9801