Title: second opinion

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida
 
____________
No. SC02-377
____________
AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF
PROCEDURE.
 
[October 3, 2002]
CORRECTED OPINION
PER CURIAM.
In Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, 27 Fla. L.
Weekly S542 (Fla. May 30, 2002), we adopted amendments to Florida Family Law
Rule of Procedure 12.200, Case Management and Pretrial Conferences, and Florida
Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines
Worksheet.  Rule 12.200 was amended to reflect statutory changes to the Florida
Adoption Act.  See ch. 2001- 3, §§ 13, 16-17, 20, 31, Laws of Fla. (amending §§
63.062, 63.087, 63.088, 63.097, and 63.212, Fla. Stat. (2000)).  The amendments to
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e) were made to reflect
statutory changes to section 61.30(11), Florida Statutes (2000).  See ch. 2001-158,
§ 16, Laws of Fla.  In our previous opinion we afforded interested parties an
2
opportunity to comment on the amendments.  Amendments to the Florida Family
Law Rules of Procedure, 27 Fla. L. Weekly S542 (Fla. May 30, 2002).  Further, the
amendments were published for comments in The Florida Bar News on June 15,
2002.  We received two comments regarding the amendments.  
After considering the comments, we have adopted the following suggestions. 
Rule 12.200, Case Management and Pretrial Conferences, is hereby amended to
clarify that there should be a case management conference when there is a request
for a waiver of consent to a termination of parental rights of any person required to
consent  by section 63.062, Florida Statutes.  The amendment to rule 12.200,
which is effective immediately, is set forth in Appendix A of this opinion with new
language indicated by underscoring and deletions indicated by struck-through type. 
Further, we amend form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, to
address additional expenses as well as requests for child support amounts that
deviate from the child support guidelines.  Form 12.902(e) is amended as set forth
in Appendix B of this opinion, effective for immediate use.  
We express no opinion as to the correctness or applicability of form
12.902(e), or on the substance of the legislation.  This opinion and the form
discussed herein may be accessed and downloaded from this Court’s website at
www.flcourts.org. 
3
It is so ordered.
ANSTEAD, C.J., SHAW, WELLS, PARIENTE, LEWIS, and QUINCE, JJ., and
HARDING, Senior Justice, concur.
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
Original Proceeding - Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure
Michael Walsh, Current Chair, West Palm Beach, Florida; Honorable John C.
Lenderman, Former Chair, Family Law Rules Committee, St. Petersburg, Florida;
and John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee,
Florida,
for Petitioner
Norman D. Levin, Longwood, Florida; and Patricia L. Strowbridge, Orlando,
Florida, on behalf of the Florida Adoption Council, 
Responding
4
APPENDIX A
RULE 12.200.
CASE MANAGEMENT AND PRETRIAL
CONFERENCES
(a)
Case Management Conference.
(1)
Family Law Proceedings, Generally. A case management
conference may be ordered by the court at any time on the court’s initiative. A
party may request a case management conference 30 days after service of a petition
or complaint. At such a conference the court may:
(A)
schedule or reschedule the service of motions, pleadings,
and other papers;
(B)
set or reset the time of trials, subject to rule 12.440;
(C)
coordinate the progress of the action if complex litigation
factors are present;
(D)
limit, schedule, order, or expedite discovery;
(E)
schedule disclosure of expert witnesses and the discovery
of facts known and opinions held by such experts;
(F)
schedule or hear motions related to admission or
exclusion of evidence;
(G)
pursue the possibilities of settlement;
(H)
require filing of preliminary stipulations if issues can be
narrowed;
(I)
refer issues to a master for findings of fact, if consent is
obtained as provided in rules 12.490 and 12.492 and if no significant history of
domestic or repeat violence that would compromise the process is involved in the
case;
5
(J)
refer the parties to mediation if no significant history of
domestic or repeat violence that would compromise the mediation process is
involved in the case and consider allocation of expenses related to the referral; or
refer the parties to counseling if no significant history of domestic or repeat
violence that would compromise the process is involved in the case and consider
allocation of expenses related to the referral;
(K)
coordinate voluntary binding arbitration consistent with
Florida law if no significant history of domestic or repeat violence that would com-
promise the process is involved in the case;
(L)
appoint court experts and allocate the expenses for the
appointments;
(M)
refer the cause for a home study or psychological
evaluation and allocate the initial expense for that study;
(N)
appoint an attorney or guardian ad litem for a minor child
or children if required and allocate the expense of the appointment; and
(O)
schedule other conferences or determine other matters
that may aid in the disposition of the action.
(2)
Adoption Proceedings. A case management conference shall be
ordered by the court within 60 days of the filing of a petition when
(A)
there is a request for a waiver of consent to a termination
of parental rights by those persons of any person required to consent by section
63.062, Florida Statutes;
(B)
notice of the hearing on the petition to terminate parental
rights pending adoption is not being afforded a person whose consent is required
but who has not consented;
(C)
there is an objection to venue, which was made after the
waiver of venue was signed; 
6
(D)
an intermediary, attorney, or agency is seeking fees,
costs, or other expenses in excess of those provided under sections 63.097 or
63.212(5), Florida Statutes;
(E)
an affidavit of diligent search and inquiry is filed in lieu of
personal service under section 63.088(4), Florida Statutes; or
(F)
the court is otherwise aware that any person having
standing objects to the termination of parental rights pending adoption.
(b)
Pretrial Conference. After the action is at issue the court itself may
or shall on the timely motion of any party require the parties to appear for a
conference to consider and determine:
(1)
proposed stipulations and the simplification of the issues;
(2)
the necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings;
(3)
the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents
that will avoid unnecessary proof;
(4)
the limitation of the number of expert witnesses; and
(5)
any matters permitted under subdivision (a) of this rule.
(c)
Notice. Reasonable notice shall be given for a case management
conference, and 20 days’ notice shall be given for a pretrial conference. On failure
of a party to attend a conference, the court may dismiss the action, strike the
pleadings, limit proof or witnesses, or take any other appropriate action. Any
documents that the court requires for any conference shall be specified in the order.
Orders setting pretrial conferences shall be uniform throughout the territorial
jurisdiction of the court.
(d)
Case Management and Pretrial Order. The court shall make an
order reciting the action taken at a conference and any stipulations made. The order
shall control the subsequent course of the action unless modified to prevent
injustice.
7
Commentary
1995 Adoption. This rule addresses issues raised by decisions such as
Dralus v. Dralus, 627 So.2d 505 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993); Wrona v. Wrona, 592
So.2d 694 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); and Katz v. Katz, 505 So.2d 25 (Fla. 4th DCA
1987), regarding the cost of marital litigation. This rule provides an orderly method
for the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of issues and promotes
amicable resolution of disputes.
This rule replaces and substantially expands Florida Rule of Civil Procedure
1.200 as it pertained to family law matters. Under this rule, a court may convene a
case management conference at any time and a party may request a case
management conference 30 days after service of a petition or complaint. The court
may consider the following additional items at the conference: motions related to
admission or exclusion of evidence, referral of issues to a master if consent is
obtained pursuant to the rules, referral of the parties to mediation, referral of the
parties to counseling, coordination of voluntary binding arbitration, appointment of
court experts, referral of the cause for a home study psychological evaluation, and
appointment of an attorney or guardian ad litem for a minor child.
Committee Note
1997 Amendment. In In re Adoption of Baby E.A.W., 658 So.2d 961 (Fla.
1995), and other cases involving protracted adoption litigation, it becomes clear
that the earlier the issue of notice is decided by the court, the earlier the balance of
the issues can be litigated. Because both parents’ constitutional standing and
guarantees of due process require notice and an opportunity to be heard, this rule
amendment will help solve the problems of adoption litigation lasting until a child’s
third, fourth, or even fifth birthday. Furthermore, this rule will encourage both
parents to be more candid with intermediaries and attorneys involved in the
adoption process.
In E.A.W., 658 So.2d at 979, Justice Kogan, concurring in part and
dissenting in part, stated: “I personally urge the Family Law Rules Committee . . .
to study possible methods of expediting review of disputes between biological and
adoptive parents.” This rule expedites resolution of preliminary matters concerning
due process in difficult adoption disputes. This rule also mandates early
8
consideration of the child’s rights to due process at early stages of adoption
litigation.
Noncompliance with subdivision (a)(2) of this rule shall not invalidate an
otherwise valid adoption.
APPENDIX B
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF PROCEDURE FORM 12.902(e),
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES WORKSHEET
When should this form be used?
You should complete this worksheet if child support is being requested in your case.  If you know the
income of the other party, this worksheet should accompany your financial affidavit.  If you do not know
the other party’s income, this form must be completed after the other party files his or her financial
affidavit, and serves a copy on you.
This form should be typed or printed in black ink.  You should file the original with the clerk of the
circuit court in the county where your case is filed and keep a copy for your records.
What should I do next?
A copy of this form must be mailed or hand delivered to the other party in your case, if it is not served on
him or her with your initial papers.
Where can I look for more information?
Before proceeding, you should read “General Information for Self-Represented Litigants”
found at the beginning of these forms.  The words that are in “bold underline” in these instructions
are defined there.  For further information, see section 61.30, Florida Statutes.
Special notes...
If this is a domestic violence case and you want to keep your address confidential for safety reasons, do
not enter the address, telephone, and fax information at the bottom of this form.  Instead, file Petitioner’s
Request for Confidential Filing of Address, O’ Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
12.980(I).
The chart below contains the guideline amounts that you should use when calculating child support.  This
amount is based on the number of children and the combined income of the parents, and it is divided
between the parents in direct proportion to their income or earning capacity.  From time to time, some of
the amounts in the child support guidelines chart will change.  Be sure you have the most recent version
of the chart before using it.
Because the guidelines are based on monthly amounts, it may be necessary to convert some income and
expense figures from other frequencies to monthly.  You should do this as follows:
If payment is twice per month
Payment amount
× 
2
=
Monthly amount
If payment is every two weeks
Payment amount
×
26
=
Yearly amount due
Yearly amount
÷
12
=
Monthly amount
If payment is weekly
Weekly amount
×
52
=
Yearly amount due
Yearly amount
÷
12
=
Monthly amount
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
If you or the other parent request that the court award an amount that is different than the guideline
amount, you must also complete and attach a Motion to Deviate from Child Support Guidelines, O’
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.943.
Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is called a nonlawyer.  If a nonlawyer helps you fill out
these forms, that person must give you a copy of a Disclosure from Nonlawyer, O‘ Florida Family
Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900(a), before he or she helps you.  A nonlawyer helping you fill out
these forms also must put his or her name, address, and telephone number on the bottom of the last page
of every form he or she helps you complete.
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES CHART
Combined
Monthly
Available
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Income
Child
Children
Children
Children
Children
Children
   650.00
 74
 75
 75
 76
 77
 78
   700.00
119
120
121
123
124
125
   750.00
164
166
167
169
171
173
   800.00
190
211
213
216
218
220
   850.00
202
257
259
262
265
268
   900.00
213
302
305
309
312
315
   950.00
224
347
351
355
359
363
 1000.00
235
365
397
402
406
410
 1050.00
246
382
443
448
453
458
 1100.00
258
400
489
495
500
505
 1150.00
269
417
522
541
547
553
 1200.00
280
435
544
588
594
600
 1250.00
290
451
565
634
641
648
 1300.00
300
467
584
659
688
695
 1350.00
310
482
603
681
735
743
 1400.00
320
498
623
702
765
790
 1450.00
330
513
642
724
789
838
 1500.00
340
529
662
746
813
869
 1550.00
350
544
681
768
836
895
 1600.00
360
560
701
790
860
920
 1650.00
370
575
720
812
884
945
 1700.00
380
591
740
833
907
971
 1750.00
390
606
759
855
931
996
 1800.00
400
622
779
877
955
1022
 1850.00
410
638
798
900
979
1048
 1900.00
421
654
818
923
1004
1074
 1950.00
431
670
839
946
1029
1101
 2000.00
442
686
859
968
1054
1128
 2050.00
452
702
879
991
1079
1154
 2100.00
463
718
899
1014
1104
1181
 2150.00
473
734
919
1037
1129
1207
 2200.00
484
751
940
1060
1154
1234
 2250.00
494
767
960
1082
1179
1261
 2300.00
505
783
980
1105
1204
1287
 2350.00
515
799
1000
1128
1229
1314
 2400.00
526
815
1020
1151
1254
1340
 2450.00
536
831
1041
1174
1279
1367
 2500.00
547
847
1061
1196
1304
1394
 2550.00
557
864
1081
1219
1329
1420
Combined
Monthly
        
Available
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Income
Child
Children
Children
Children
Children        Children
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
 2600.00
568
880
1101
1242
1354
1447
 2650.00
578
896
1121
1265
1379
1473
 2700.00
588
912
1141
1287
1403
1500
 2750.00
597
927
1160
1308
1426
1524
 2800.00
607
941
1178
1328
1448
1549
 2850.00
616
956
1197
1349
1471
1573
 2900.00
626
971
1215
1370
1494
1598
 2950.00
635
986
1234
1391
1517
1622
 3000.00
644
1001
1252
1412
1540
1647
 3050.00
654
1016
1271
1433
1563
1671
 3100.00
663
1031
1289
1453
1586
1695
 3150.00
673
1045
1308
1474
1608
1720
 3200.00
682
1060
1327
1495
1631
1744
 3250.00
691
1075
1345
1516
1654
1769
 3300.00
701
1090
1364
1537
1677
1793
 3350.00
710
1105
1382
1558
1700
1818
 3400.00
720
1120
1401
1579
1723
1842
 3450.00
729
1135
1419
1599
1745
1867
 3500.00
738
1149
1438
1620
1768
1891
 3550.00
748
1164
1456
1641
1791
1915
 3600.00
757
1179
1475
1662
1814
1940
 3650.00
767
1194
1493
1683
1837
1964
 3700.00
776
1208
1503
1702
1857
1987
 3750.00
784
1221
1520
1721
1878
2009
 3800.00
793
1234
1536
1740
1899
2031
 3850.00
802
1248
1553
1759
1920
2053
 3900.00
811
1261
1570
1778
1940
2075
 3950.00
819
1275
1587
1797
1961
2097
 4000.00
828
1288
1603
1816
1982
2119
 4050.00
837
1302
1620
1835
2002
2141
 4100.00
846
1315
1637
1854
2023
2163
 4150.00
854
1329
1654
1873
2044
2185
 4200.00
863
1342
1670
1892
2064
2207
 4250.00
872
1355
1687
1911
2085
2229
 4300.00
881
1369
1704
1930
2106
2251
 4350.00
889
1382
1721
1949
2127
2273
 4400.00
898
1396
1737
1968
2147
2295
 4450.00
907
1409
1754
1987
2168
2317
 4500.00
916
1423
1771
2006
2189
2339
 4550.00
924
1436
1788
2024
2209
2361
 4600.00
933
1450
1804
2043
2230
2384
Combined
Monthly
        
Available
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Income
Child
Children
Children
Children
Children        Children
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
 4650.00
942
1463
1821
2062
2251
2406
 4700.00
951
1477
1838
2081
2271
2428
 4750.00
959
1490
1855
2100
2292
2450
 4800.00
968
1503
1871
2119
2313
2472
 4850.00
977
1517
1888
2138
2334
2494
 4900.00
986
1530
1905
2157
2354
2516
 4950.00
993
1542
1927
2174
2372
2535
 5000.00
1000
1551
1939
2188
2387
2551
 5050.00
1006
1561
1952
2202
2402
2567
 5100.00
1013
1571
1964
2215
2417
2583
 5150.00
1019
1580
1976
2229
2432
2599
 5200.00
1025
1590
1988
2243
2447
2615
 5250.00
1032
1599
2000
2256
2462
2631
 5300.00
1038
1609
2012
2270
2477
2647
 5350.00
1045
1619
2024
2283
2492
2663
 5400.00
1051
1628
2037
2297
2507
2679
 5450.00
1057
1638
2049
2311
2522
2695
 5500.00
1064
1647
2061
2324
2537
2711
 5550.00
1070
1657
2073
2338
2552
2727
 5600.00
1077
1667
2085
2352
2567
2743
 5650.00
1083
1676
2097
2365
2582
2759
 5700.00
1089
1686
2109
2379
2597
2775
 5750.00
1096
1695
2122
2393
2612
2791
 5800.00
1102
1705
2134
2406
2627
2807
 5850.00
1107
1713
2144
2418
2639
2820
 5900.00
1111
1721
2155
2429
2651
2833
 5950.00
1116
1729
2165
2440
2663
2847
 6000.00
1121
1737
2175
2451
2676
2860
 6050.00
1126
1746
2185
2462
2688
2874
 6100.00
1131
1754
2196
2473
2700
2887
 6150.00
1136
1762
2206
2484
2712
2900
 6200.00
1141
1770
2216
2495
2724
2914
 6250.00
1145
1778
2227
2506
2737
2927
 6300.00
1150
1786
2237
2517
2749
2941
 6350.00
1155
1795
2247
2529
2761
2954
 6400.00
1160
1803
2258
2540
2773
2967
 6450.00
1165
1811
2268
2551
2785
2981
 6500.00
1170
1819
2278
2562
2798
2994
 6550.00
1175
1827
2288
2573
2810
3008
 6600.00
1179
1835
2299
2584
2822
3021
 6650.00
1184
1843
2309
2595
2834
3034
Combined
Monthly
        
Available
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Income
Child
Children
Children
Children
Children        Children
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
 6700.00
1189
1850
2317
2604
2845
3045
 6750.00
1193
1856
2325
2613
2854
3055
 6800.00
1196
1862
2332
2621
2863
3064
 6850.00
1200
1868
2340
2630
2872
3074
 6900.00
1204
1873
2347
2639
2882
3084
 6950.00
1208
1879
2355
2647
2891
3094
 7000.00
1212
1885
2362
2656
2900
3103
 7050.00
1216
1891
2370
2664
2909
3113
 7100.00
1220
1897
2378
2673
2919
3123
 7150.00
1224
1903
2385
2681
2928
3133
 7200.00
1228
1909
2393
2690
2937
3142
 7250.00
1232
1915
2400
2698
2946
3152
 7300.00
1235
1921
2408
2707
2956
3162
 7350.00
1239
1927
2415
2716
2965
3172
 7400.00
1243
1933
2423
2724
2974
3181
 7450.00
1247
1939
2430
2733
2983
3191
 7500.00
1251
1945
2438
2741
2993
3201
 7550.00
1255
1951
2446
2750
3002
3211
 7600.00
1259
1957
2453
2758
3011
3220
 7650.00
1263
1963
2461
2767
3020
3230
 7700.00
1267
1969
2468
2775
3030
3240
 7750.00
1271
1975
2476
2784
3039
3250
 7800.00
1274
1981
2483
2792
3048
3259
 7850.00
1278
1987
2491
2801
3057
3269
 7900.00
1282
1992
2498
2810
3067
3279
 7950.00
1286
1998
2506
2818
3076
3289
 8000.00
1290
2004
2513
2827
3085
3298
 8050.00
1294
2010
2521
2835
3094
3308
 8100.00
1298
2016
2529
2844
3104
3318
 8150.00
1302
2022
2536
2852
3113
3328
 8200.00
1306
2028
2544
2861
3122
3337
 8250.00
1310
2034
2551
2869
3131
3347
 8300.00
1313
2040
2559
2878
3141
3357
 8350.00
1317
2046
2566
2887
3150
3367
 8400.00
1321
2052
2574
2895
3159
3376
 8450.00
1325
2058
2581
2904
3168
3386
 8500.00
1329
2064
2589
2912
3178
3396
 8550.00
1333
2070
2597
2921
3187
3406
 8600.00
1337
2076
2604
2929
3196
3415
 8650.00
1341
2082
2612
2938
3205
3425
 8700.00
1345
2088
2619
2946
3215
3435
Combined
Monthly
        
Available
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Income
Child
Children
Children
Children
Children        Children
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
 8750.00
1349
2094
2627
2955
3224
3445
 8800.00
1352
2100
2634
2963
3233
3454
 8850.00
1356
2106
2642
2972
3242
3464
 8900.00
1360
2111
2649
2981
3252
3474
 8950.00
1364
2117
2657
2989
3261
3484
 9000.00
1368
2123
2664
2998
3270
3493
 9050.00
1372
2129
2672
3006
3279
3503
 9100.00
1376
2135
2680
3015
3289
3513
 9150.00
1380
2141
2687
3023
3298
3523
 9200.00
1384
2147
2695
3032
3307
3532
 9250.00
1388
2153
2702
3040
3316
3542
 9300.00
1391
2159
2710
3049
3326
3552
 9350.00
1395
2165
2717
3058
3335
3562
 9400.00
1399
2171
2725
3066
3344
3571
 9450.00
1403
2177
2732
3075
3353
3581
 9500.00
1407
2183
2740
3083
3363
3591
 9550.00
1411
2189
2748
3092
3372
3601
 9600.00
1415
2195
2755
3100
3381
3610
 9650.00
1419
2201
2763
3109
3390
3620
 9700.00
1422
2206
2767
3115
3396
3628
 9750.00
1425
2210
2772
3121
3402
3634
 9800.00
1427
2213
2776
3126
3408
3641
 9850.00
1430
2217
2781
3132
3414
3647
 9900.00
1432
2221
2786
3137
3420
3653
 9950.00
1435
2225
2791
3143
3426
3659
10000.00
1437
2228
2795
3148
3432
3666
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE                                               JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR                                                  COUNTY, FLORIDA
Case No.: 
Division: 
,
                         Petitioner,
                               and
,
                     Respondent.
NOTICE OF FILING CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES WORKSHEET
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that {name}                                                           , is filing his/her
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet attached and labeled Exhibit 1.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I  certify that a copy of this Notice of Filing with the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet was 
[ / one only] (    ) mailed (    ) faxed and mailed (    ) hand delivered to the person(s) listed below on
{date} 
.
Other party or his/her attorney:
Name: 
Address: 
City, State, Zip: 
Fax Number: 
Date: 
Signature of Party
Printed Name: 
Address: 
City, State, Zip: 
Telephone Number: 
Fax Number: 
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES WORKSHEET
A. FATHER
B. MOTHER
TOTAL
1.  Present Net Monthly Income
Enter the amount from line number 27, Section I of O‘ Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure    
Form 12.902(b) or ©), Financial Affidavit.
2. Basic Monthly Obligation 
There is (are) {number}                    minor child(ren)  common to the parties.  Using the total
amount from line 1, enter the appropriate amount from the child support  guidelines chart.
3. Percent of Financial Responsibility
Divide the amount on line 1A by the total  amount on line 1 to get Father’s percentage financial
responsibility.  Enter answer on line 3A.
Divide the amount on line 1B by the total amount on line 1 to get Mother’s percentage                   
financial responsibility.  Enter answer on line 3B.
.%
. %
4. Share of Basic Monthly Obligation
Multiply the number on line 2 by the percentage on line 3A to get Father’s share of basic
obligation.  Enter answer on line 4A.
Multiply the number on line 2 by the percentage on line 3B to get Mother’s share of basic
obligation.  Enter answer on line 4B.
Additional Support — Health Insurance, Child Care & Other
5a. 75% of Monthly Child Care Costs 
[Child care costs should not exceed the level required to provide quality care from a licensed
source for the child(ren).  See section 61.30(7), Fla. Stat. for more information.]
5b. Total Monthly Child(ren)’s Health Insurance Cost
[This is only amounts actually  paid for health insurance on the child(ren).]      
5c. Total Monthly Child(ren)’s Noncovered Medical, Dental and
Prescription Medication Costs
5d. Total Monthly Child Care & Health Costs [Add lines 5a+5b+5c]
6. Additional Support Payments
Multiply the number on line 5d by the percentage on line 3A to determine the Father’s share.
Enter answer on line 6A.
Multiply the number on line 5d by the percentage on line 3B to determine the Mother’s share.
Enter answer on line 6B.
Statutory Adjustments/Credits
7a. Monthly child care payments actually made        
7b. Monthly health insurance payments actually made
7c. Other payments/credits actually made for any noncovered
medical, dental and prescription medication expenses of the
child(ren) not ordered to be separately paid on a percentage
basis. [See § 61.30 (8), Florida Statutes]
8. Total Support Payments actually made [Add 7a through 7c]
9. MINIMUM CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION FOR EACH
PARENT [Line 4 plus line 6; minus line 8] 
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES WORKSHEET
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
Substantial Shared Parenting (GROSS UP METHOD) If the noncustodial parent exercises visitation at least 40
percent of the overnights in the year (146 overnights in the year), complete Nos. 10 through 21  
10. Basic Monthly Obligation x 150% [ Multiply line 2by 1.5]
A. FATHER
B. MOTHER
TOTAL
11. Increased Basic Obligation for each parent 
Multiply the number on line 10 by the percentage on line 3A to determine the Father’s share.
Enter answer on line 11A.
Multiply the number on line 10 by the percentage on line 3B to determine the Mother’s share.
Enter answer on line 11B.  
12. Percentage of overnight stays with each parent
The child(ren) spend(s)            overnight stays with the father each year.  Using the number on
the above line, multiply it by 100 and divide by 365.  Enter this number on line 12A.
The child(ren) spend(s)            overnight stays with the mother each year.  Using the number on
the above line, multiply it by 100 and divide by 365.  Enter this number on line 12B.
%
%
13. Parent’s support multiplied by other Parent’s percentage of
overnights [Multiply line 11A by line 12B.  Enter this number in 13A.  Multiply line 11B
by line 12A.  Enter this number in 13B.]
Additional Support — Health Insurance, Child Care & Other
14a. Total Monthly Child Care Costs 
[Child care costs should not exceed the level required to provide quality care from a licensed
source for the child(ren).  See section 61.30(7), Fla. Stat. for more information.]
14b. Total Monthly Child(ren)’s Health Insurance Cost
[This is only amounts actually paid for health insurance on the child(ren).]      
14c. Total Monthly Child(ren)’s Noncovered Medical, Dental
and Prescription Medication Costs
14d. Total Monthly Child Care & Health Costs [Add lines 14a+14b+14c]
15. Additional Support Payments
Multiply the number on line 14d by the percentage on line 3A to determine the Father’s share.
Enter answer on line 15A.
Multiply the number on line 14d by the percentage on line 3B to determine the Mother’s share.
Enter answer on line 15B.
Statutory Adjustments/Credits
16a. Monthly child care payments actually made        
16b. Monthly health insurance payments actually made
16c. Other payments/credits actually made for any noncovered
medical, dental and prescription medication expenses of the
child(ren) not ordered to be separately paid on a percentage
basis. [See § 61.30 (8), Florida Statutes]
17. Total Support Payments actually made [Add 16a through 16c]
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES WORKSHEET
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (10/02)
18.  Total Additional Support Transfer Amount [Line 15 minus line 17;
Enter any negative number as zero] 
19. Total Child Support Owed from Father to Mother [Add line
13A+18A]
20. Total Child Support Owed from Mother to Father [Add line
13B+18B]
21.  Actual Child Support to Be Paid. [Comparing lines 19 and 20,
Subtract the smaller amount owed from the larger amount owed and enter the result in the
column for the parent that owes the larger amount of support]
 $                  -or- $                    
 
ADJUSTMENTS TO GUIDELINES AMOUNT.  If you or the other parent is requesting the Court to award a child support
amount that is more or less than the child support guidelines, you must complete and file Motion to Deviate from Child
Support Guidelines, O” Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.943.
[ / one only]
       
a.  Deviation from the guidelines amount is requested.  The Motion to Deviate from Child Support Guidelines, O”
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.943, is attached.
       
b.  Deviation from the guidelines amount is NOT requested.  The Motion to Deviate from Child Support Guidelines,
O” Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.943, is not attached.
IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, HE/SHE MUST FILL IN THE BLANKS BELOW: [ N fill
in all blanks]
I, {full legal name and trade name of nonlawyer} 
,
a nonlawyer, located at {street} 
, {city} 
,
{state} 
, {phone} 
, helped {name} 
,
who is the [ / one only]       petitioner or       respondent, fill out this form.