Calculating Child Care Expense For Child Support Guidelines

Florida’s child support guidelines statute, F.S. 61.30 (7), provides that child care costs incurred on behalf of the children due to employment, or job search, or education calculated to result in employment or to enhance income of current employment of either parent is included in the calculation for determining child support. An accurate calculation is important so that neither parent ends up taking on a larger portion of the cost. Below is a worksheet to assist you in determining your monthly child care costs to be included in the calculation.

1. Day care expense for average school week is $__________ per week. In Lee County, Florida, there are 39 school weeks per year.
2. Day care expense for average vacation week is $__________ per week. In Lee County, there are 3 vacation weeks per school year (including Christmas and Spring breaks only).
3. Day care/Summer camp for average summer week is $ __________ per week.
   1. multiplied by 39 =
   2. multiplied by 3 =
   3. multiplied by 10 =
   4. Total Annual Cost =
   5. ÷ 12 =