Child Support Help in the State of Florida
- Florida's Department of Revenue helps parents locate parents who are responsible for providing child support, establish paternity and child support orders, modify existing orders and collect back child support payments. To receive the state's assistance, parents who are not already receiving government benefits must apply with the Department of Revenue.
- Florida Legal Services, Inc. provides pro bono services to low-income families who need legal assistance. The nonprofit organization helps clients receive child support enforcement help on a statewide level with volunteer programs through private firms and other nonprofit local legal aid clinics. The pro bono legal assistance programs have various income requirements depending upon the group's specific rules. Generally, to qualify, Floridians must earn between 100 and 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Floridians who exceed these income requirements can look for reduced-fee assistance through the organization's Florida Law Help website (see References).
- The Florida Bar association provides free consumer family law information. The bar helps Floridians obtain educational information and understand their legal consumer rights. As of 2011, the Florida Bar's website contains three different family law brochures. Parents can download a free copy of "Parenting and Divorce" by accessing their website (see References). In addition to offering the public free legal information, the bar also provides a low-fee referral service. Interested parents may contact the Florida Bar to request contact information.
- Florida's judicial system offers free family law forms that help residents determine child support obligations, modify existing obligations and file pro se (self-representation) show cause motions. The Florida state courts maintain an active self-help library with up-to-date rules and opinions. These publications help parents understand their legal support rights, implications of not complying with an existing order and helps them modify support payments showing a significant change of circumstances.
- Since family laws can frequently change, you should not use this information as a substitute for legal advice. Seek advice through an attorney licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.