Child Support in Uncontested Divorce Florida (2026 Guide)

An uncontested divorce in Florida still requires a court-approved child support calculation when minor children are involved — parents cannot simply agree to skip it. Child support is set by the statutory guidelines in F.S. 61.30, calculated on a Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Form 12.902(e)), and must meet the guideline amount unless the court approves a written deviation. Our firm prepares the entire uncontested package — worksheet, parenting plan, and Marital Settlement Agreement — for a $750 flat attorney fee (court costs ~$408-$410 and notary are separate).

How Does Child Support Work in a Florida Uncontested Divorce?

Many parents assume that because their divorce is uncontested — meaning they agree on everything — they can write any child support number they like into their agreement. That is not how Florida law works. Under F.S. 61.30, child support is calculated using a mandatory statewide formula, and the court must review the math before signing the Final Judgment of Dissolution.

In a child support uncontested divorce, Florida treats the support amount as a right belonging to the child, not a negotiable term between the parents. Parents may agree on the parenting plan, the time-sharing schedule, and even most of the financial inputs, but the resulting support figure must match the guideline calculation in F.S. 61.30 unless the judge approves a deviation supported by written findings.

The good news for cooperating couples: when both parents agree and the numbers are accurate, the support calculation is straightforward, the case stays uncontested, and there is no contested hearing over money. The parenting plan and child support worksheet simply become attachments to your agreement.

For a broader overview of how children fit into an agreed case, see our guide on uncontested divorce with children in Florida.

What Is the Florida Child Support Guidelines Worksheet?

The Florida child support guidelines worksheet is the form the court uses to calculate the presumptive support amount. The standardized version is Florida Family Law Form 12.902(e), available at flcourts.gov. It is required in every dissolution case involving minor or dependent children, including uncontested ones.

The worksheet under F.S. 61.30 walks through several steps:

• Determine each parent's gross monthly income from all sources (wages, self-employment, bonuses, rental income, and more).
• Subtract allowable deductions (taxes, mandatory retirement, health insurance premiums, existing court-ordered support) to reach each parent's net monthly income.
• Combine both parents' net incomes and apply the statutory child support schedule in F.S. 61.30(6) to find the basic obligation for the number of children.
• Add work-related child care costs and the children's health insurance premiums.
• Allocate the total between the parents in proportion to their share of combined net income.
• Adjust for the time-sharing schedule under F.S. 61.30(11)(b) when a parent exercises a substantial number of overnights.

The figure that comes out of the worksheet is the presumptive correct amount. Even in an agreeing case, you must file a completed worksheet so the judge can confirm the number.

How Is Child Support Calculated Under F.S. 61.30?

Florida uses an income shares model under F.S. 61.30, meaning support is based on the combined net income of both parents and the idea that a child should receive roughly the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family stayed intact.

The key inputs are:

• Net income of each parent. Gross income includes salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, disability benefits, and more under F.S. 61.30(2). Deductions under F.S. 61.30(3) include federal and state taxes, FICA, mandatory union dues, mandatory retirement, health insurance for the parent, and court-ordered support for other children.
• Number of children. The statutory schedule in F.S. 61.30(6) provides a basic obligation amount that rises with combined income and the number of children.
• Child care and health insurance. The cost of work-related child care and the children's health insurance premiums are added to the basic obligation under F.S. 61.30(7) and (8).
• Time-sharing overnights. When a parent has the children for a substantial number of overnights per year, F.S. 61.30(11)(b) adjusts the obligation. The gross-up calculation computes both parents' obligations and takes the net difference; the parent with the larger obligation pays the other.

A worked example helps. Suppose Parent A nets $4,000 per month and Parent B nets $2,000 per month. Their combined net income is $6,000. Parent A earns about 67% of the combined income, so Parent A is generally responsible for about 67% of the basic obligation, with the final figure adjusted for child care, health insurance, and the time-sharing schedule.

Can Parents Agree on Their Own Child Support Amount in Florida?

Parents can agree on the inputs and the parenting schedule, but they cannot freely agree to a support amount below the guidelines without court approval. Under F.S. 61.30(1)(a), the guideline amount is presumptively correct, and a court may order — or approve — an amount that varies by more than 5% above or below the guideline figure only after making a written finding explaining why the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate.

In practice this means:

• Agreeing on child support in Florida that matches the worksheet is routine and rarely questioned.
• Agreeing to MORE than the guideline amount is generally allowed and easy to approve.
• Agreeing to LESS than the guideline amount requires the court to find a valid reason for the deviation under F.S. 61.30(11)(a), such as extraordinary medical expenses, special needs, or the particular shared-parenting arrangement.
• Agreeing to ZERO child support is rarely approved unless both parents earn similar incomes and exercise equal time-sharing, and even then the worksheet must show the math supports it.

Florida courts will not rubber-stamp a side deal that shortchanges a child. If your agreed number deviates from the guideline, the court needs a written explanation. Our firm prepares that deviation language when the facts support it, so the case stays uncontested rather than getting flagged at the final hearing.

What Does the Parenting Plan Have to Do With Child Support?

The parenting plan and child support are linked because the time-sharing schedule directly affects the support calculation under F.S. 61.30(11)(b). Every Florida divorce involving minor children requires a parenting plan under F.S. 61.13(2)(b), and that plan must specify the time-sharing schedule, how parents share decision-making (parental responsibility), and how the children's needs are met.

The number of overnights each parent exercises feeds straight into the support math. When a parent has the children for a substantial number of overnights — Florida applies the adjustment when a parent has at least 20% of the overnights (73 nights) per year — the guidelines use the gross-up method in F.S. 61.30(11)(b) to share the cost more proportionally.

Since July 1, 2023, Florida law presumes that equal time-sharing is in the best interest of the child under F.S. 61.13(3). Equal or near-equal schedules change the support figure significantly, so the parenting plan and the worksheet must be prepared together. For a deep dive on building the schedule itself, see our Florida parenting plan guide.

Simplified Dissolution vs. Regular Uncontested Dissolution: Which Applies When There Are Children?

This is one of the most common points of confusion. If you have minor or dependent children, you CANNOT use Florida's simplified dissolution process. Simplified dissolution under F.S. 61.052(2) (filed on Form 12.901(a)) is only available when there are no minor or dependent children, neither spouse seeks alimony, and both spouses appear at the final hearing.

When children are involved, you must use the regular uncontested path:

Because children require the regular uncontested process, the paperwork is more involved: a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with children (Form 12.901(b)(2)), a parenting plan, a child support guidelines worksheet, and a Marital Settlement Agreement. Our flat fee covers preparing all of it. For the distinction between agreed and fought-over cases generally, see uncontested vs. contested divorce in Florida.

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce With Child Support Cost in Florida?

Our firm handles an uncontested Florida divorce — with or without children — for a $750 flat attorney fee, the same price in all 67 Florida counties (court costs ~$408-$410 and notary are separate). The price is identical whether or not you have children; when children are involved, the package simply adds the parenting plan, the child support guidelines worksheet (Form 12.902(e)), and the UCCJEA affidavit.

Here is how the typical costs break down:

For context, a contested or partially contested divorce with traditional hourly representation commonly runs $5,000 to $7,500 or more in attorney fees. A flat, transparent $750 attorney fee — with the separate court costs disclosed up front — is what makes an attorney-prepared uncontested divorce realistic for most cooperating couples. We are not the cheapest teaser rate you will see advertised; we offer full representation by a licensed Florida attorney at a flat, statewide fee. To understand why an attorney still matters even in an agreed case, read do you need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce in Florida.

Court filing fees are set by each county clerk and are separate from our flat attorney fee. As of June 2026, verify the current amount with your local clerk.

What Documents Do You File for Child Support in an Uncontested Case?

A Florida uncontested divorce with children requires a specific set of standardized forms, all available at flcourts.gov and filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Minor Children (Form 12.901(b)(2)).
• Family Law Financial Affidavit — short form (Form 12.902(b)) if gross income is under $50,000, or long form (Form 12.902(c)) if $50,000 or more. Under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285, the parties may waive FILING financial affidavits by mutual agreement using Form 12.902(k), but the income information is still needed to complete the worksheet.
• Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Form 12.902(e)).
• Parenting Plan (Form 12.995(a) for a basic plan; specialized versions exist for supervised or long-distance arrangements).
• Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)).
• Marital Settlement Agreement covering property, debts, time-sharing, child support, and alimony (or its waiver).
• Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children (Form 12.990(b)(2)), which the court enters at the end.

Each form has to be internally consistent. The income on the financial affidavit must match the worksheet; the time-sharing schedule in the parenting plan must match the overnights used in the support calculation; the support amount in the MSA must match the worksheet result. Inconsistencies are the most common reason an otherwise agreed case gets bounced back at the final hearing. Our firm cross-checks every figure before filing.

What Is the Marital Settlement Agreement's Role in Child Support?

The Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) is the centerpiece document that memorializes everything the spouses agreed to, including child support. For a simplified dissolution the standardized form is Form 12.902(f)(3); for a regular uncontested case with children, the MSA is typically a custom-drafted agreement that incorporates the parenting plan and the support figure from the worksheet.

A complete MSA for a case with children covers:

• Equitable distribution of marital property and debts under F.S. 61.075.
• The agreed child support amount, payment method, and start date, consistent with the Form 12.902(e) worksheet.
• How the parents share uncovered medical expenses and the children's health insurance.
• The children's tax dependency exemption allocation.
• Alimony, or a clear waiver of alimony if neither spouse seeks support (alimony types since SB 1416 are bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational — permanent alimony was eliminated effective July 1, 2023, under F.S. 61.08).
• A statement that the support amount complies with F.S. 61.30, including any deviation findings.

A well-drafted MSA prevents future disputes and gives the judge confidence to approve the case quickly. Our Florida Marital Settlement Agreement guide explains the full document in detail.

How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce With Children Take in Florida?

Florida has no mandatory waiting period after filing — unlike many states, you do not have to wait a fixed number of days before the court can finalize your divorce. The realistic timeline is driven by paperwork and the local court's calendar, not a statutory cooling-off period.

For an uncontested divorce with children, typical phases are:

• Preparing and signing the petition, parenting plan, worksheet, and MSA: a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how quickly both spouses provide their financial information.
• Serving the other spouse (or filing an Answer and Waiver if the spouse cooperates): a few days.
• Mandatory disclosure and financial affidavits within 45 days of service under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285 (often waived by agreement in cooperative cases).
• The court scheduling and holding a brief final hearing to approve the agreement and enter the Final Judgment.

Many cooperative cases with children finalize within a few weeks to a couple of months, but the court controls scheduling and final-hearing availability varies by county. We cannot guarantee a specific date, but a complete, internally consistent filing is the single biggest factor in getting on the calendar quickly.

What Happens at the Final Hearing for Child Support?

At the final hearing in an uncontested case, the judge reviews the file to confirm three things: that residency is established under F.S. 61.021, that the parenting plan serves the best interests of the children under F.S. 61.13, and that the child support amount matches the guidelines in F.S. 61.30 (or that an approved deviation is properly explained).

The petitioner usually testifies briefly — confirming the marriage is irretrievably broken under F.S. 61.052, that the residency requirement is met, and that they entered the agreement voluntarily. In a regular uncontested case, often only the petitioner needs to appear; the other spouse may not have to attend if they signed an Answer and Waiver. (By contrast, simplified dissolution requires both spouses to appear.)

If every document is consistent and the support figure is correct, the judge signs the Final Judgment of Dissolution and the divorce is complete. Errors in the worksheet or a mismatch between the MSA and the parenting plan are the usual reasons a hearing gets continued. Our firm prepares clients for exactly what the judge will ask.

Can Child Support Be Modified After an Uncontested Divorce?

Yes. Child support is always modifiable when circumstances change, even if it was set by agreement in an uncontested case. Under F.S. 61.30(1)(b) and F.S. 61.14, either parent may petition to modify support when there is a substantial change in circumstances — generally a change that would alter the guideline amount by at least 15% or $50, whichever is greater.

Common grounds for modification include:

• A significant increase or decrease in either parent's income.
• A change in the time-sharing schedule that shifts overnights.
• A change in the cost of the children's health insurance or work-related child care.
• A child aging out (support generally ends at 18, or up to 19 if the child is still in high school and on track to graduate, under F.S. 743.07).

Parents cannot permanently bargain away the right to seek modification of child support — that right belongs to the child. If your situation later changes, a modification action (and, when both parents agree again, an uncontested modification) is available. The original uncontested divorce does not lock the number in forever.

A Note From the Author

I have practiced Florida family law since 2006, and the most common worry I hear from cooperating parents is that the child support worksheet will turn a friendly divorce into a fight. It almost never does. When both parents share accurate income figures and an agreed parenting schedule, the F.S. 61.30 calculation is mechanical, and the case stays uncontested from filing to final judgment.

Frequently Asked Questions

See the FAQ section below for detailed answers about the $750 flat fee, deviating from the guidelines, waiving child support, and more.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about Florida divorce law and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. The Law Office of Antonio G. Jimenez can prepare your uncontested divorce for a $750 flat attorney fee (court costs and notary separate); contact our office to confirm whether your case qualifies as uncontested.