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Child Support Attorney Serving South Florida 

A child support number on a worksheet can look like simple math, but it can carry real weight for a family’s budget for years, whether you expect to pay support or to receive it. A figure that seems close enough at the time can turn out to be significantly off once every source of income and every overnight is actually accounted for.

Barash-Schatten Law Firm, P.A. can serve as the child support attorney South Florida parents throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties turn to for establishing, modifying, and enforcing support. Attorney Pamela Schatten, an AV-rated attorney recognized by her peers for legal ability and ethical standards, aims to work directly with every client from the first conversation forward rather than handing a case off to a rotating team of associates.

Why the Right Attorney Makes the Difference

A support calculation can be sensitive to details that are easy to overlook, such as bonus income, self-employment earnings, health insurance costs, or the exact number of overnights each parent actually has. Leaving any one of those out can shift the final number more than most parents expect, whether that means paying more than you should or receiving less than your child needs. A worksheet prepared without a close review of both parents’ full financial picture can end up wrong in ways that are hard to catch later.

It is also easy to assume the other parent has reported their income accurately, particularly when one parent is self-employed or works on commission. That assumption can leave real money on the table, which is often why families begin looking for a child support attorney South Florida parents trust before a number is finalized rather than after.

How We Can Help With Divorce, Custody, and Support

Representation in this area can start with reviewing both parents’ actual income and expenses, including income sources that are not always obvious from a pay stub alone, so a proposed number reflects your family’s real financial picture. From there, a support calculation can generally follow Florida’s guideline approach, which factors in both parents’ combined net income along with the time-sharing schedule, though the specific inputs used can meaningfully change the outcome.

We can also help with a support matter that comes up after an initial order, whether that means seeking a modification following a significant change in income or parenting time, or addressing a situation where support is not being paid as ordered. If a support question is part of a broader custody or time-sharing matter, our child custody page may be relevant as well.

Why Clients Choose Pamela Schatten

Ms. Schatten is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction based on peer review of both legal ability and ethical standards, and clients consistently describe her as thorough and conscientious in reviewing every detail of their case. She brings the same attention to a straightforward uncontested filing that she brings to a contested custody dispute, and our office typically responds to calls and emails within a couple of hours rather than days. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Family law questions rarely have a one-size-fits-all answer, since the right approach depends
on your specific situation. Here are some of the questions clients ask most often before their
first consultation.

Child support is generally calculated using an income shares approach that factors in both parents’ combined net income, and the number of overnights each parent has with the child can also affect the final number. Health insurance and childcare costs are often factored in as well, though every family’s situation can change the specific result.

A support order can sometimes be modified if a parent’s income or the time-sharing schedule changes in a significant way, such as a job loss, a substantial raise, or a shift in overnights. Whether a specific change would qualify for a modification is worth discussing directly rather than assuming either way.

A parent who is not receiving ordered support may have options for enforcement, and addressing a missed payment early can sometimes prevent the situation from growing into a larger arrears balance. Every enforcement situation depends heavily on its own specific facts.

A fair support outcome can be worth pursuing regardless of which side of the calculation you are on, since a number that is too high or too low can affect a family for years either way. We aim to review a proposed number with the same care no matter which parent we represent.

What Working With Our Firm Looks Like

Your first conversation with us is about your situation, not a sales pitch, and we tell you honestly what to expect for your case rather than what you want to hear. If your situation can realistically be resolved without years of litigation, we will tell you that too, and we will tell you plainly when it cannot.

You work directly with Ms. Schatten throughout your case, not a revolving cast of associates, and you will always know what is happening next and why.

If you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or a question about support, call Barash-Schatten Law Firm, P.A. at (954) 698-4644 to schedule a consultation at our Hollywood office. We also welcome contact through the form on our website, and we will let you know honestly what to expect for your specific situation.

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Contact the Firm

Start the conversation.

Tell us briefly what you need and how to reach you. Messages go directly to Pamela Schatten, and you will hear back within a couple of hours at most during the business day.

Telephone

305-868-7800

Toll free

1-833-DO-A-WILL

Office location, Fort Lauderdale

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