Can The Primary Parent Waive Child Support In Florida?

No. In Florida a parent cannot waive his or her right to receive child support. This is because Florida law states that the child support is for the sole benefit of the child, not the benefit of the parent. A parent cannot waive his or her child’s right to support under Florida law.

It’s not uncommon for one parent to want to waive their right to child support in trade for the child not spending as much time with the other parent or for similar reasons. If one parent is unfit for parenting, as defined by law, or there is another valid legal reason a parent should not be made to pay child support or have limited parenting rights, the law provides exceptions for extenuating circumstances. You will need to speak with a Florida family law attorney to find out whether the court is likely to grant an exception for your circumstances.

Additional information about child support law in Florida can be found on these pages of our web site: