Marriage is a contract between two adults. Child support is a legal obligation to a child or children by their biological parents. Marriage is not a precursor for child support. In short, the answer is yes - you may be entitled to receive child support regardless of marriage.
Florida law states that both parents are legally obligated to provide support for their minor child/children. Child support payment is considered a right of the child not the parent. The purpose of child support is to meet the the child’s basic needs for food, clothing and shelter, as well as to allow the child/children to share in the wealth and good fortune of their parents.
How Do I File For Child Support If We Were Never Married?
If you need to obtain child support through the Florida Court System you will be required to complete several family law forms. You may contact the clerk of court in your county to discuss the forms you will need to complete and file, or you may contact a knowledgable family law attorney who is well versed in child custody cases. Either way, the process is essentially the same.
The child custody forms must be filled out and filed with the clerk of court in the county you reside. The benefits of hiring a child custody lawyer are vast, as navigating the Florida Court System on your own can feel overwhelming. Max Factor Law provides decades of experience in family law and child custody cases. You can trust our decades of experience and dedication to our clients to ensure that your child custody paperwork is completed and filed properly and with ease.
To learn more about the divorce process, child support and how it's calculated or how to come up with a time-sharing plan, our florida family law team is here to support you with endless resources. Visit our blog or call our firm at (850)-577-1699.