High Stakes & High Income: Child Support Issues in Florida’s Wealthiest Divorces

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Florida's Wealthiest Divorces: Complex Cases, Expert Advice, host Katie Roberts and family law expert Stacy Beaulieu-Fawcett dive into the complexities surrounding child support in high net worth divorces in Florida. They explore how the state's child support formula impacts wealthy families, the challenges of paying large amounts, and the difficulties of determining what expenses child support should cover. Stacey shares valuable insights into how special circumstances—such as a child with extraordinary medical needs or attending a high-end sports academy—can alter these calculations.

Additionally, they discuss how child support agreements are adjusted over time, particularly when parents experience significant changes in income or lifestyle, and the importance of proactively managing these shifts to avoid future disputes.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction to the show and today’s topic: child support in high net worth divorces.
• 02:00 – The challenges of high child support payments in cases involving professional athletes and wealthy clients.
• 03:50 – What child support is meant to cover and the additional costs beyond it, such as private schools, extracurriculars, and medical needs.
• 06:00 – The impact of extraordinary medical expenses on child support, including how these costs are shared between parents.
• 09:00 – How the child support formula can be adjusted in cases of special needs, and the potential use of trusts to manage large support amounts.
• 13:00 – The intricacies of modifying child support when a parent's income changes, and how businesses and promotions factor into adjustments.
• 17:00 – How clients are advised to proactively communicate changes in their income or lifestyle to avoid future child support disputes.
• 18:30 – Conclusion and final thoughts on managing finances during a high net worth divorce.

About the Show:

Florida's Wealthiest Divorces: Complex Cases, Expert Advice is your go-to resource for understanding the nuances of family law in Florida, specifically high net worth divorces. Hosted by Katie Roberts and featuring seasoned family law attorney Stacy Beaulieu-Fawcett, this podcast offers expert insights into complex divorce cases, from asset division to child support and alimony, and how wealth can influence family law decisions.