Child Support

Your child support order can be changed (modified) by either the court or the Florida Child Support Program, if:

• it is in the best interests of your child;
• your child turns 18, or is between 18 and 19 under certain circumstances;         
• there has been a significant (substantial) change in your or the other parent’s circumstances; or
• your child:
  • is emancipated;
  • marries;
  • joins the armed services; or
  • dies.¹

You may also qualify for a review of your child support order if your child support order has not been changed or reviewed in the last three years.² Either parent can ask the Child Support Program or the circuit court to change their support order.

The parent asking for the change based on the significant change in circumstances standard must show that their situation has changed in a substantial, permanent, and involuntary way. This means that something major, lasting, and beyond their control has affected their financial situation.³

If the review shows that the child support amount should be changed based on state guidelines, the department or the court will take steps to modify the order. What those steps are may depend on whether your order originally came from the Florida Child Support Program, a Florida court, or a court in another state. If it is determined that the order should not change, the Florida State Child Support Program will send a notification of the decision to the parents.³

¹ Fla. Stat. § 61.13(2)
² Fla. Stat. §409.2564(11)(a)
³ See Florida Department of Revenue website.