What is Imputed Income in a Florida Child Support Case?

The State of Florida requires all parents to contribute financially to their child’s needs. There’s no way around this. If you have a child in Florida, then you are either the custodial parent or you’re paying child support to ensure the well-being of your children. Child support is calculated based on financial factors that include both parents. But what happens when one individual is underemployed or otherwise earns less than they could? In that case, the courts might impute income to the non-custodial parent, or assume that they have a specific earning power that they are not currently making. In other words, the courts will assign income to the parent regardless of how much money they make on paper. This imputed income will be used as the basis for calculating their child support payment. In this article, the Largo, FL divorce lawyers at Cairns Law, P.A. will discuss imputed income when it comes to Florida child support cases.

What is imputed income? 

Courts employ imputed income in child support cases when they believe a parent makes less money than their earning potential. Imputed income is income a court thinks a parent should make based on their skills, education, and job opportunities. Courts assign imputed income to calculate child support as opposed to the parent’s reported income.

Courts may assign imputed income in cases of:

• Voluntary unemployment or underemployment
• Insufficient income information provided
• Recent job loss without active job seeking
• Taking a lower-paying job to avoid paying child support

Courts won’t always impute income for unemployment or underemployment. The courts must consider the individual’s circumstances and the local job market for their skill set.

How does imputed income change child support?

Imputed income can significantly change child support obligations. If a court suspects an individual of being voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, they may decide that the parent’s earning power should bring in a specific amount of money. Instead of basing their child support calculations on the parent’s actual income, they will base the calculations on the parent’s imputed income. Ways imputed income can impact child support payments include:

• Increasing payments for the non-custodial parent
• Decreasing payments received by the custodial parent
• Aiming to reflect each parent’s actual earning capacity

If you believe your spouse is underemployed, you can argue that fact before the court. You can present evidence of their earning potential, job market conditions, and reasons for their current employment problems.

Parents who are facing potential income imputation should consider gathering evidence of their job search efforts and documenting any barriers to employment and their current financial situation.

Talk to a Largo, FL Family Law Attorney Today 

The Clearwater family attorneys at Cairns Law, P.A. represent the interests of those who are pursuing a divorce or child support payments from a co-parent. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps immediately.