Ver en Español
Free Case Evaluation Call Now

Child Support Income – Florida Statute 61.30(a)

October 8, 2013

One of the biggest questions involving the child support statutes in the State of Florida is what is considered income. Well the statute says income is the following:(a) Gross income shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Salary or wages.
2. Bonuses, commissions, allowances, overtime, tips, and other similar payments.
3.  Business income from sources such as self-employment, partnership, close corporations, and independent contracts. “Business income” means gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses required to produce income.
4. Disability benefits.
5. All workers’ compensation benefits and settlements.
6. Unemployment compensation.
7. Pension, retirement, or annuity payments.
8. Social security benefits.
9. Spousal support received from a previous marriage or court ordered in the marriage before the court.
10. Interest and dividends.
11. Rental income, which is gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses required to produce the income.
12. Income from royalties, trusts, or estates.
13. Reimbursed expenses or in kind payments to the extent that they reduce living expenses.
14. Gains derived from dealings in property, unless the gain is nonrecurring.

But this list is not exhaustive. The courts tend to include any money coming into the home from whatever source if the funds are coming in and can be documented by paperwork, testimony, or lifestyle. This means regular allowances from family members, irregular income earned doing side jobs or home based businesses, and even government assistance sometimes can affect the income used for child support calculations. Because the court includes almost all sources of revenue, getting professional child support calculation help is essential to ensure the numbers are accurate.

 

To ensure that the appropriate income numbers are used, it’s best to involve professionals and hire an attorney. But even with an attorney, you must disclose all source of income to the court and to the other person.

Additional Resources

Check out Florida Statute 61.30 in its entirety for additional information affecting child support.

Florida Statute 61.30

Related posts:

  1. How Child Support Affects Your Taxes
  2. Your House and Divorce: Should You Stay or Should You Go?
  3. Everything You Need to Know About Florida’s Groundbreaking Alimony Reform
  4. 7 Things No One Tells You to Include in Your Parenting Plan

About the Author

Vanessa_Vasquez De Lara Divorce Attorney

Vanessa Vasquez de Lara is a Miami divorce lawyer, author, and legal commentator with more than 20 years of experience helping families navigate divorce, child custody disputes, and complex family law matters throughout Florida. She is the founder and managing partner of Vasquez de Lara Law Group, one of the largest family-law-only firms serving Miami-Dade and Broward counties, with a team of attorneys dedicated exclusively to divorce and family law.

A graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Vanessa has been recognized for her professional excellence by being named to the Super Lawyers list every year since 2016. She is also the author of the bestselling book “The Florida Man’s Guide to Getting Divorced” which provides practical insight into the legal, financial, and personal realities of divorce in Florida.

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Vanessa is frequently invited to provide legal commentary on family law issues in national media, including appearances on NBC and Univision’s Despierta América.

Beyond her legal work, Vanessa is the founder of the Ricky Supreme Scholars Foundation, created in honor of her brother who lost his life to gun violence. Through the foundation, she provides scholarships to high school students to help them pursue higher education and build brighter futures.

Connect with Vanessa:
LinkedIn | Florida Bar Profile | Avvo