Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Support
How long does it take to establish paternity in Florida? The answer depends on what issues are disputed in the case - if parties do not agree on time-sharing, for example, this may mean lengthy litigation. Disputes over calculation of child support can also take time. In the case D.H. v. J.H., 2D19-3968 (Fla. 2d DCA January 20, 2021), the parties were involved in a paternity lawsuit for more than two years.
By the time this case was set for trial, it had been pending for about two years. A trial occurred which took three days to conclude. After the trial, it took the court nine months to enter its final judgment of paternity which included child support calculations. The father appealed on the basis that it took the trial court too long to enter its final judgment and that it inaccurately calculated his child support obligation.
On appeal, the court noted that it found no error with how long it took the court to enter its final judgment. However, the court agreed with the father that the support was not properly calculated, holding “[W]e agree with [the father] that the judgment failed to include sufficient findings as to how the court reached the figure it utilized to calculate [the father’s] income. Moreover, the judgment was silent as to [the mother], the mother's, income. We must, therefore, reverse the judgment and remand for the circuit court to make the requisite findings regarding the parties' respective incomes and, if necessary, to recalculate the child support award accordingly.”
Calculate your estimated Florida child support obligation by scheduling a consultation with a Miami child support lawyer. Understanding what you may face it important in moving forward in your case.