Child support calculations can change when courts assign imputed income to a parent. This often occurs when a parent appears to earn less than they could. Let’s explore how imputed income affects child support and what parents should know.
What is imputed income?
Courts use imputed income in child support cases when they believe a parent earns less than their potential. Imputed income is the income a court thinks a parent could make based on their skills, education and job opportunities. Courts assign this theoretical income to calculate child support.
Reasons for income imputation include:
- Voluntary unemployment or underemployment
- Insufficient income information provided
- Recent job loss without active job-seeking
- Taking a lower-paying job to avoid child support
Courts don’t always impute income for unemployment or underemployment. They consider local job markets and individual circumstances.
How imputed income changes child support
Imputed income can significantly alter child support calculations:
- It may increase payments for the paying parent
- It might decrease the support received by the custodial parent
- It aims to reflect each parent’s actual earning capacity
Imputing income and recalculating support often involve presenting evidence of earning potential, job market conditions and reasons for current employment situations.
Parents facing potential income imputation should gather evidence of their job search efforts, any barriers to employment and documentation of their current financial situation.
While imputed income helps ensure fair child support arrangements, its application requires careful consideration of each family’s situation. Parents who believe imputed income might affect their case should consider consulting a family law attorney familiar with Florida’s child support laws.
Remember, child support aims to provide for children’s needs. Open communication between parents and accurate income reporting can help achieve fair support arrangements without court intervention.
