FLORIDA CHILD SUPPORT & CUSTODY
Protecting Your Children, Your Parental Rights and Their Future
Clear, compassionate guidance for child support, parenting plans, time-sharing and parental responsibility.
When your family is changing, few decisions matter more than the ones involving your children. Caroline Olson helps parents understand their options, protect their relationship with their children and work toward practical arrangements designed for the realities of everyday family life.
With family law experience dating to 1999, Caroline brings a solution-oriented approach built on competence, compassion and personal attention.
Protecting What Is Most Precious To You Since 1999.
Family Law Experience Since 1999 | 3 Convenient South Florida Offices | Accessible, Personal Legal Guidance
Experience You Can Turn To. A Personal Approach You Can Feel.
Family law guidance focused on clear communication, practical solutions and the people who matter most to you.
GUIDANCE THAT STARTS WITH YOUR CHILDREN
When the Issue Is Your Child, You Need Clear Answers and a Practical Plan
Your family is unique. Your parenting arrangement should reflect that.
Child-related family law disputes can become emotional quickly. You may be worried about losing time with your children, concerned about how major decisions will be made or uncertain about how child support will affect your household.
Caroline begins by listening. She takes the time to understand your children, your current parenting arrangement, your concerns and what you believe a workable future should look like.
She then explains the legal issues in straightforward language so you can make informed decisions instead of reacting to uncertainty.
The goal is to protect your children while helping you reach an arrangement that provides stability, structure and a practical path forward.
You should understand what is happening, why it matters and what your options are at every stage.
Clear Answers
Calm Communication
Practical Next Steps.
CHILD CUSTODY IN FLORIDA
What Does “Child Custody” Mean in Florida?
Florida family law generally addresses parenting through time-sharing, parental responsibility and a parenting plan.
Parents commonly search for a “child custody lawyer,” but Florida law uses more specific terms to describe how parents share time and responsibility for their children. These concepts work together to create the legal framework for parenting after separation or divorce.
Establishes the schedule for when your child spends time with each parent, including regular schedules, weekends, holidays and school breaks.
Addresses responsibility for important decisions involving education, health care and other matters affecting your child’s welfare.
Creates the working structure for time-sharing, parental responsibilities, communication and other important parenting issues.
PUTTING YOUR CHILD FIRST
How Does a Florida Court Decide Time-Sharing?
The child’s best interests remain the primary consideration.
Florida currently begins with a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in a minor child’s best interests unless another provision of law applies or the parents agree otherwise. That does not mean every family automatically receives the same schedule.
When parents do not agree, the court evaluates the circumstances of the child and family, including safety, stability, parenting responsibilities and each parent’s ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent.
Ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent; ability to put the child’s needs first; stability and continuity; practical distance between homes; division of parenting responsibilities; home, school and community circumstances; physical and mental health; safety, abuse or domestic-violence concerns.
Ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
Ability to put the child’s needs first
Stability and continuity
Practical distance between homes
Division of parenting responsibilities
Home, school and community circumstances
Physical and mental health
Safety, abuse or domestic-violence concerns
BUILDING STRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE
A Strong Parenting Plan Can Prevent Future Conflict
The best parenting plans address the details families actually face.
A well-developed plan can establish regular time-sharing, holidays and school breaks, exchanges and transportation, parent-child communication, responsibility for important decisions, access to school and medical information and other issues affecting day-to-day parenting.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHILDREN
How Is Child Support Calculated in Florida?
Florida uses statutory child-support guidelines, but the final calculation depends on several pieces of financial and parenting information.
Both parents have a responsibility to financially support their children. The calculation can take into account the parents’ incomes, time-sharing, employment-related child-care expenses, health-insurance costs and certain medical expenses.
Caroline helps clients look beyond a simple online calculator. Bonuses, self-employment income, benefits, insurance, child-care expenses and the actual parenting schedule can all matter.
Income
Parenting Time
Child-Related Costs
UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLETE PICTURE
Time-Sharing Can Affect Child Support, but They Are Separate Issues
More parenting time does not automatically mean that childsupport disappears.
Florida’s child-support formula can take parenting time into account. Even when parents share substantial or equal time, differences in income, child-care costs, health insurance and other guideline considerations can affect the result. This is why the parenting and financial parts of a case should be considered together rather than treated as completely separate problems.
Time-Sharing
Child Support
WHEN LIFE CHANGES
Your Parenting Plan or Child Support Order May Need to Change Too
An arrangement that worked several years ago may no longer fit your family.
Children grow. Jobs change. Parents relocate. School schedules change. Income can increase or decrease. An arrangement that once made sense may eventually become difficult or impractical.
Florida law allows parenting plans, time-sharing schedules and child-support orders to be modified when the applicable legal requirements are met.
Caroline can help you evaluate whether the changes affecting your family may justify seeking a modification and what information you will need before moving forward.
EFFECTIVE. SOLUTION-ORIENTED. PREPARED.
Focused on a Workable Resolution. Prepared to Protect Your Children and Your Rights.
When a parenting or support dispute can be resolved through negotiation, mediation or a carefully structured agreement, Caroline works toward a solution that can reduce unnecessary expense, delay and conflict.
When agreement is not possible, she prepares the facts and legal issues needed to advocate for her client through the court process.
Clear Strategy.
Calm Communication.
Practical Next Steps.
COMPETENCE + COMPASSION
An Experienced Family Law Attorney Who Takes the Time to Listen
Caroline R. Olson is the founder and principal attorney of Caroline Olson, P.A. Her family law experience dates to 1999. Her professional background also includes service as an Assistant State Attorney and Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem.
She listens carefully, explains the issues clearly and works to develop solutions based on each client’s circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.
"Here to guide you with competence and compassion as you close one difficult chapter and look to a brighter and more peaceful future."
Family Law Experience Since 1999
Former Assistant State Attorney
Former Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem
Accessible & Responsive
Solution-Oriented Representation
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED
3 Convenient Offices. Family Law Guidance Throughout South Florida.
Caroline Olson, P.A. serves individuals and families throughout South Florida, with physical offices in Boca Raton, Jupiter and Plantation.
Boca Raton Office
6501 Congress Avenue, Suite 100, Boca Raton, FL 33487
Jupiter Office
601 Heritage Drive, Suite 452, Jupiter, FL 33458
Plantation Office
8551 W. Sunrise Blvd., Suite 208, Plantation, FL 33322
COMMUNITIES SERVED
Common Questions About Child Support & Custody in Florida
What is child custody called in Florida?
Florida generally addresses what people commonly call custody through parental responsibility, time-sharing and a parenting plan. Parental responsibility concerns major decisions affecting the child, while time-sharing concerns when the child spends time with each parent.
Does Florida automatically require 50/50 time-sharing?
No. Florida has a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in a minor child’s best interests, but that presumption can be overcome. When parents do not agree, the court considers the circumstances of the child and family.
Does 50/50 time-sharing mean nobody pays child support?
No. Equal or substantial time-sharing does not automatically eliminate child support. Income, overnights, child-care expenses, health insurance and other guideline factors can affect the calculation.
What does a Florida parenting plan include?
A parenting plan includes a time-sharing schedule and addresses responsibilities involving the child, including issues such as education, health care and communication.
Can a parenting plan or time-sharing schedule be changed?
Yes, when the legal requirements for modification are satisfied. Changes in family circumstances may justify reviewing the existing arrangement.
Can child support be modified?
Yes. Child support may be modified when circumstances change sufficiently to satisfy Florida’s legal requirements. Changes in income, parenting time or certain child-related expenses may be relevant.
Do we have to go to court if we agree on the parenting plan?
Parents can develop a parenting plan together for court approval. When parents cannot agree, the court can establish the plan.
Where can I meet with Caroline Olson?
Caroline Olson, P.A. has three convenient offices in Boca Raton, Jupiter and Plantation and serves families throughout South Florida.
Does Caroline Olson offer a free initial consultation?
Yes. Call (561) 288-0548 or submit the consultation form to discuss your child support, parenting or time-sharing concerns.
Have Questions About Your Children and Your Future?
You Do Not Have to Figure Out the Next Step Alone
Start with a conversation about your children, your concerns and what you would like a workable parenting arrangement to look like. Caroline can help you understand the legal and financial issues and identify practical next steps.
Free Initial Consultation
Three Convenient South Florida Offices
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Let’s Talk About What Comes Next
Tell us a little about your situation. Our office will contact you to discuss your child support, parenting or time-sharing concerns and the next step that may be available.
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Protect What Matters Most With Clear Information and a Practical Plan
Whether you are establishing a parenting plan, resolving a child-support issue or seeking a change to an existing order, the first step is understanding your options. Talk with Caroline about where your family is today and what needs to happen next.
Protecting What Is Most Precious To You Since 1999
