Review and Adjustment Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How are child support payment amounts calculated?

The amount of child support is governed by the child support guidelines found in Chapter 61.30 of the Florida Statutes. In some cases, the guidelines may be based on a party's earning ability which may be higher than actual earnings of the paying parent. (Example: When working full time, a parent earns $400 a week. The parent chooses to work part-time and earns $200. The earning ability is $400.) To obtain a copy of the child support guidelines worksheet, visit our website or your local public library, family law section.

How do I request a review?

To request a review you may contact our customer service unit at 1 (800) 622-KIDS (5437) or complete the Review & Adjustment Request form located on our website. After completing the Review & Adjustment Request form, please mail it to the CSE office that manages your case.

IF CSE does not manage my case, may I still request a review?

Yes, however, you would first need to contract services with CSE and then request a review of your child support order. To contract services with CSE you may contact our customer service unit at 1 (800) 622-KIDS (5437) or complete the application for Child Support Enforcement services located on our website.

What is a review?

A review is a procedure where your existing court order, financial information and other information is considered. Child Support Enforcement Specialists determine if a change, or adjustment, is warranted. If a review is requested, the child support agency will look at two (2) things:

Does the ordered amount of child support match the amount calculated using Florida guidelines and both parties' current circumstances?
Does the court order include language to provide health insurance for the child if available at a reasonable cost?

When is a review done?

When either parent asks for a review and the order has not been reviewed for three years.
When the state determines that a review is necessary. This may be done when the child does not live with either parent (for example, the child is in Foster Care), or the family receives TANF.

Upon request, the child support agency may do a review more often than every three years if there has been an unusual change in circumstances (for example, a parent or child becomes permanently disabled, daycare expenses have commenced, or there is a dramatic increase in earnings).

Why would a review not be done?

A review would not be done in cases when:

There is no obligation that exists or should exist to provide current support.
The custodial parent has claimed good cause for non-cooperation.
Either party's location is unknown.
All children are emancipated.
It has been less than three years since the last review and the requesting party fails to provide proof of a substantial change in circumstances.

If I request a review, will the other party be notified?

Yes, CSE will notify the other party in writing. The other party will be asked to provide necessary financial information.

If I request a review, what will I need to do?

CSE will mail you a financial affidavit. You must complete the form and return it to CSE within 15 days. If we do not receive your financial affidavit, a review may not be conducted on your case.

Does the other party complete the financial affidavit as well? Will I receive a copy of their information?

Both parties are asked to complete the financial affidavit. The custodial parent is entitled to any information in his/her file, including the non-custodial parent's financial affidavit. If the custodial parent petitions for modification, the custodial parent's financial affidavit will be served on the non-custodial parent with the petition for modification. The non-custodial parent may also complete a public records request through CSE for a copy of the custodial parent's financial affidavit or receive a copy from the clerk of court.

What is an adjustment?

An adjustment, or modification, is a legal change of the child support order. Usually this happens because changes in circumstances require an adjustment. The adjustment may increase or decrease the child support amount. It may also order one of the parents to carry health insurance for the child.

Does an adjustment or modification always increase the child support payments?

No, the adjustment could raise or lower the child support payments.

If I do not like the results of the review, or they are not to my advantage, can I stop the review process?

No. CSE will proceed with the review and adjustment process as long as CSE is providing services.

If I disagree with the outcome what do I do?

If you disagree with the outcome of the review there are two options:

You can request a second review. Keep in mind that in order for a second review to be completed you would need to provide additional information that would warrant a second review (i.e. additional financial information).
If your case is a non-assistance case (no public assistance is currently being received and no public assistance arrearages are owed to the state) you could request that your case be closed.

Will there always be an adjustment when a case is reviewed?

No, a change does not have to be made after the order is reviewed if:

It has been more than three years since the last review, modification, or since the order was established and the guideline amount does not increase or decrease at least 10% of the original support amount or $25 per month, whichever is greater, and the order provides for health insurance.
It has been less than three years since the last review, modification, or since the order was established and the guideline change amount does not increase or decrease at least 15% of the original support amount or $50 per month, whichever is greater, and the order provides for health insurance.
The non-custodial parent cannot be located.

What happens when the review is done and an adjustment is appropriate?

The department will notify both parties of the outcome of the review process in writing. If the review results in a change to the order and both parents in the case agree to the change, the child support agency would submit this agreement to the court. If the parents cannot agree on the change, the court will decide whether the change is appropriate.

Who pays the costs of an adjustment?

The non-custodial parent.

How long will it take to get my order modified?

As a rule, the process, from request for review through order modification, should be completed within six months. However, the length of time could be affected by many factors including the number of requests we receive and the availability of court dates.