Are you looking for a child support lawyer?
Child support attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers for their results.
If a child support order is taking too much, paying too little, or simply being ignored, you do not have to sort it out alone. Numbers that looked fine a few years ago can fall apart after a job change or a move. Our Tampa-based child support lawyer can walk you through how the calculation works and where there is room to push. The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers has spent years helping parents set, change, and collect support. Let us look at your order before your next payment is due.
Child Support Lawyer
Child support is money one parent pays the other to help cover the cost of raising a child. It is meant to follow the child, not reward or punish either parent. The amount usually comes from a formula that weighs each parent’s income, the time the child spends with each of them, and certain expenses like health insurance and daycare. The formula gives the system consistency, so two similar families end up with similar results. It also leaves room for the details of your situation, which is where good representation earns its keep.
A child support attorney makes sure that formula is built on real numbers. We dig into income that is hard to pin down, account for the right expenses, and challenge figures that do not add up. A small error in one input can throw off the entire result, which is why the details matter so much. When circumstances change, we go back to court to adjust the order, and when a parent refuses to pay, we use the tools available to collect. The work is rarely loud, but it is steady and precise. Support questions often sit beside child custody decisions, since time with the child feeds directly into the math.
Types of Child Support Cases We Handle
Most parents come to us at one of three moments: setting up support for the first time, changing an order that no longer works, or chasing payments that never arrive. Each one calls for a different approach, and the right move depends on where you are in that arc. We have handled every version of these matters, from straightforward setups to tangled income disputes. Here is the range of work we take on.
- Establishing support. When there is no order yet, we work through the way support is calculated and make sure both incomes are documented honestly from the start. Getting the first order right saves a great deal of trouble later, since every future change measures back to it.
- Modifications. A raise, a layoff, a new baby, or a change in the timesharing schedule can all justify a new number. We pursue and defend requests to modify support when the facts have genuinely changed. A change has to be real and lasting, not a temporary dip, and we help you show which one you have.
- Enforcement. When payments stop, the court can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and apply other pressure. We move quickly so arrears do not pile up beyond reach. The sooner we act, the more options remain on the table.
- Income disputes. A surprising amount of conflict comes down to one question: what actually counts as income. We address what is treated as income, including bonuses, self-employment, and irregular pay. When the numbers are contested, documentation and, at times, a forensic look at the records settle it.
- Back support and arrears. Unpaid support adds up fast, and interest can follow. We help parents recover what is owed and help paying parents address accumulated arrears before the consequences grow. Those consequences can reach a driver’s license, a passport, and a credit report, so addressing them early matters.
- Self-employed and variable income. When a parent’s pay rises and falls, the standard formula needs careful handling. We build a record that reflects real earning power, not a single good or bad month. That often means reviewing several years of returns and separating personal spending that runs through a business.
- Add-on expenses. Support is rarely just a base figure. Medical costs, childcare, and certain activities can be shared, and we make sure those are allocated fairly. Spelling these out in the order prevents arguments later about who pays for what.
Why Choose The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers as my Child Support Lawyer?
A Family Law Practice Focused on Children
Our work centers on families, and child support sits at the heart of it. Damien McKinney founded the firm, has practiced family law since 2006, and serves as a state-certified family law mediator and a trained guardian ad litem, roles that keep the child’s interests in clear view. He earned his law degree from Stetson University and has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers every year since 2012, along with a 2016 Distinction of Excellence.
Stephanie Koether handles support and custody matters with him. She completed her law degree with honors at the University of Miami after her undergraduate years at Fordham University, and she is a Family Law Section member.
Because support rarely stands alone, our broader family law work lets us see the whole picture. We have helped many parents secure fair orders and correct ones that had drifted far from reality.
Areas We Serve
Serving Florida
Clearwater, FL
- Family
- Divorce
- dissolution of marriage
- child custody
- child support
- post judgment modification and enforcement
- postnuptial agreement
- prenuptial agreement
Miami, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Tampa, FL
- Divorce
- Family
- dissolution of marriage
- Alimony
- spousal support
- annulment
- adoption
- parental rights
- custody and time sharing
- child support
- child protective services defense
- dcf false allegation
- pre and post nuptial agreement
Trinity, FL
Serving North Carolina
Ashville, NC
Black Mountain, NC
Fletcher, NC
Hendersonville, NC
Raleigh, NC
Understanding Child Support Cases
How Child Support Is Calculated and What Counts
Support is driven by numbers, not feelings, and a handful of inputs do most of the work. Understanding them helps you see whether your order is fair, and where a challenge might be worth raising.
- Each parent’s income. Wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment earnings all feed the calculation.
- Timesharing. The number of overnights each parent has with the child can move the figure up or down.
- Health insurance. The cost of covering the child is folded into the math and shared between parents.
- Childcare costs. Work-related daycare and after-care are common add-ons that affect the total.
- Other children. Existing support obligations for other children can adjust what is available.
- Imputed income. When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, a court can assign income based on what they could reasonably earn.
What Are Important Aspects of a Child Support Case?
A few things separate a smooth case from a contested one. Most of them come down to preparation and honesty.
- Complete income records. Hidden or understated income is the most common fight, and documentation settles it.
- Accurate expense figures. Insurance and childcare numbers need receipts, not estimates.
- A clear timesharing count. Overnights matter, so the parenting schedule should be precise.
- Forward planning. Building in a path to revisit the order later saves a return trip to court.
- Prompt reporting. Telling the court about an income change quickly protects you from arrears and accusations of hiding money.
What Is The Child Support Case Timeline?
Timelines vary, but the path is usually recognizable. Here is how a typical matter unfolds from start to order.
- Information gathering. Both parents disclose income, expenses, and the parenting schedule.
- Calculation. The figures run through the formula to produce a proposed amount.
- Negotiation. Many parents resolve the number once the math is on the table.
- Hearing if needed. When parents disagree, a judge reviews the evidence and sets the amount.
- Entry and enforcement. The order takes effect, payments begin, and either parent can seek changes later. Most orders run through an income deduction, so payments are automatic and documented.
What Should You Bring to Your Child Support Consultation?
The more complete your information, the more precise our early guidance can be. A few items make the first meeting count. You will not have every document on day one, and that is fine, but bring what you can.
- Recent pay stubs and tax returns for both parents if you can get them.
- Proof of childcare and health insurance costs for the child.
- A record of the parenting schedule showing overnights with each parent.
- Any existing order so we can compare it against your current circumstances.
Plan on a candid conversation. We will tell you whether your order looks reasonable, where it might be challenged, and what a realistic outcome could be, rather than promising a number we cannot guarantee. If your situation is straightforward, we will say so. If it is going to be a fight, you will know that too.
What Are Important Legal Resources for Child Support Cases?
Child support is a shared federal, state, and local responsibility, so several public agencies offer reliable information. These resources can help you understand the system before you act. They explain how the program works in plain terms, which makes the legal advice that follows easier to absorb.
- The federal child support office explains how support works and what local agencies do.
- Parents can review the program’s services and process for establishing and collecting support.
- The Internal Revenue Service notes that child support is not taxable income and not deductible.
- Children may qualify for Social Security family benefits based on a parent’s record.
Reach Out to The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
A support order shapes your budget and your child’s stability, so it deserves real attention. Working with a knowledgeable child support lawyer can mean the difference between a number that fits and one that quietly drains you. The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers is ready to review your order, explain your options, and chart the next step. Contact us to set up a consultation and get a straight answer about where you stand.