Support Orders

A child support order sets the amount of support a parent is required to provide for their child. Orders can also establish paternity and require a parent to provide health insurance and/or payment of other medical expenses.

Orders are established and changed administratively or by going to court. Other child support agencies may be involved when one parent lives in another state or country.

Learn more about support orders:

Establish Support OrdersA child support order sets the amount and type of support parents are required to provide for their children. LEARN MORE › Change Support OrdersEither parent may be eligible to request a support order review. LEARN MORE › Parenting Time PlanParents can choose to incorporate a parenting time plan into their support order when it is first established through the administrative process. Both parents must agree to and sign the plan, or they can provide their own. LEARN MORE › Child Support AmountsThe amount of child support for a support order is based on guidelines defined in Florida Law. Child support guidelines consider the income of both parents and child(ren)'s costs. LEARN MORE › LocateIt is critical for the Child Support Program to have up-to-date address, employment, and contact information for both parents. Support orders require parents to report changes to this information. LEARN MORE › CooperationParents must provide all requested information, return documents, and appear for genetic testing and hearings. LEARN MORE › Child Support HearingsA court or administrative law judge decides if a child support hearing will be in-person, by phone, or by using an audio/video platform. LEARN MORE › Case ClosureClosing a case with the Child Support Program is different from ending a support order. When a child support case is closed, the Program stops working on that case, but closing the case does not stop the order. LEARN MORE › International CasesInternational child support cases are cases where one parent resides in Florida and the other parent resides in another country. LEARN MORE ›