Child support is a thorny issue in any Fort Myers family court setting. Everyone wants a child to be well cared for. However, for high net worth individuals in Florida, there are concerns about being taken advantage of. Typically, in a divorce, states will follow simple guidelines when determining child support awards. But when one party out-earns those guidelines, there can be concerns about how a judge is arriving at the final figure.
In some states judges have discretion about making awards when one parent is a high net worth individual. This issue has arisen in states including Connecticut, New Jersey and North Carolina. Often, executives and professional athletes are affected by these types of rules. But really every high net worth individual going through a divorce should be aware of how child support is determined.
In some places, there’s a mathematical formula that judges follow. They may consider awarding a percentage of what the parent earns, usually up to a specific amount. But in some states, custodial parents have successfully argued that these percentages are not limited to that specific amount. In other cases, the judge’s discretion is at issue. For example, there may be a question about whether an expense is reasonable. Expenses that have been challenged successfully include salaries and expenses for support workers like nannies.
There are lots of small details that affect the size of child support awards. Because of this, it’s important to find an experienced advocate. A good lawyer who is used to appearing in family court will be able to explain the ins and outs of the case. They’ll be able to outline exactly why they’re pursuing a given strategy.
