Form 12.902(e), the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, calculates the guideline amount of child support in a Florida family case using both parents' net monthly income and the statutory chart in section 61.30, Florida Statutes.
Quick Answer: Form 12.902(e) is completed whenever child support is being requested in a Florida case. It takes the present gross and net monthly income figures from both parents' Family Law Financial Affidavits, applies the number of minor children and the statutory child support guidelines chart, and produces a calculated support obligation. It must be filed with the court and served on the other party, not just kept as a personal worksheet.
What Is Form 12.902(e)?
Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, is a Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure supporting form published by the Florida Courts. It is used in any Florida family case where child support is at issue, most often a dissolution of marriage involving a dependent or minor child, but also paternity cases and support modification proceedings.
Download the official Form 12.902(e) (PDF, Florida Courts)
When You Need to Complete This Worksheet
You should complete this worksheet if child support is being requested in your case:
- If you know the other party's income, this worksheet should accompany your Family Law Financial Affidavit
- If you do not know the other party's income, you complete this form after the other party files their financial affidavit and serves a copy on you
- The worksheet should be typed or printed in black ink
- File the completed worksheet with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where your case is filed, and keep a copy for your records
In a dissolution case involving a dependent or minor child, the worksheet is generally filed alongside the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (Form 12.901(b)(1)), the UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)), and a Parenting Plan (Form 12.995(a), (b), or (c)).
How the Child Support Calculation Works
Florida calculates child support using statewide guidelines set out in section 61.30, Florida Statutes. The guideline amount is based on:
- The number of minor children the parents have together
- The parents' combined present net monthly income
- How that combined income is divided between the parents in direct proportion to their income or earning capacity
- The number of overnights each parent has with the child(ren), which can adjust the calculation for substantial time-sharing arrangements
From time to time, the amounts in the child support guidelines chart change, so it is important to confirm you are using the most current version of the chart before finalizing the worksheet. If the parties' combined monthly net income is not listed on the chart, child support is calculated as provided by law in section 61.30(6), Florida Statutes, instead of read directly off the table.
What the Worksheet Contains
The Child Support Guidelines Worksheet packet generally includes:
- A Notice of Filing Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, identifying the case and stating that the worksheet is attached as an exhibit
- A Certificate of Service, confirming how and when the worksheet was served on the other party or their attorney (e-mailed, mailed, or hand delivered)
- The Gross Income Calculation section, pulling each parent's present gross monthly income from their Family Law Financial Affidavit
- The Child Support Guidelines Worksheet section, which starts from each parent's present net monthly income and calculates the basic monthly support obligation based on the number of children and the guidelines chart, then apportions that obligation between the parents based on their share of combined income
Filing and Serving the Worksheet
A copy of the completed worksheet must be filed with the court and served on the other party or their attorney. The copy served on the other party must be mailed, e-mailed, or hand delivered on the same day indicated on the certificate of service. If it is mailed, it must be postmarked on the date shown on the certificate of service.
Florida's Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration require that all petitions, pleadings, and documents in most cases be filed electronically, and that documents served on the other party generally be served by e-mail, except in certain circumstances. Self-represented litigants may serve and receive documents by e-mail if they choose, though they are not required to; if you do elect e-service, you designate your e-mail address using a Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address (Form 12.915) and must follow the format requirements in Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.
Converting Income and Payments to Monthly Amounts
Because the child support guidelines are based on monthly figures, income or payment amounts stated in other frequencies need to be converted before they are entered on the worksheet:
- Paid twice per month: multiply the payment amount by 2 to get the monthly amount
- Paid every two weeks: multiply the payment amount by 26 to get the yearly amount, then divide by 12 for the monthly amount
- Paid weekly: multiply the weekly amount by 52 to get the yearly amount, then divide by 12 for the monthly amount
Using the wrong conversion is one of the more common sources of an inaccurate worksheet, since biweekly and semi-monthly pay schedules are easy to confuse.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the worksheet as a private calculation and never filing or serving it on the other party
- Using an outdated version of the child support guidelines chart
- Confusing biweekly (every two weeks, 26 pay periods) and semi-monthly (twice a month, 24 pay periods) income conversions
- Filling out the worksheet before both parents' Family Law Financial Affidavits are complete and accurate
- Forgetting to file a Request for Confidential Filing of Address (Form 12.980(h)) when address confidentiality applies to your case
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida Form 12.902(e)?
Form 12.902(e), Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, is the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure form used to calculate the guideline amount of child support in a divorce, paternity, or other family case. It applies the statutory formula in section 61.30, Florida Statutes, to both parents' net monthly income and the number of overnights each parent has with the child(ren).
When do I need to complete the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet?
You should complete this worksheet whenever child support is being requested in your case. If you know the other party's income, the worksheet should accompany your Family Law Financial Affidavit. If you do not know it, you complete the worksheet after the other party files their financial affidavit and serves you a copy.
What information does the worksheet use to calculate child support?
The worksheet pulls each parent's present gross and net monthly income directly from their Family Law Financial Affidavit (Form 12.902(b) or (c)), then applies the statutory child support guidelines chart based on the parties' combined net income and the number of minor children involved.
Do I have to file and serve the worksheet, or just calculate it for myself?
You must file it with the court and serve a copy on the other party or their attorney, using a Notice of Filing Child Support Guidelines Worksheet with a certificate of service attached to the worksheet itself. It is not just a personal calculation tool.
Is the guideline amount always what the court orders?
The guideline amount calculated on Form 12.902(e) is the statutory starting point, but section 61.30, Florida Statutes, allows the court to deviate from it under certain circumstances. Whether a deviation applies to your case depends on your specific facts, which is a legal question outside what a document preparation service can advise on.
Can I keep my address confidential on this form?
Yes. If you have been found by a court to be a victim of sexual battery, aggravated child abuse, aggravated stalking, harassment, aggravated battery, or domestic violence, you can omit your address and phone number from the bottom of the form and instead file a Request for Confidential Filing of Address (Form 12.980(h)).
Can Virdix help me prepare Florida Form 12.902(e)?
Yes. Virdix carries income figures from your Family Law Financial Affidavit into the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet automatically, so the numbers stay consistent across your case's forms. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice or predict what a court will order.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix carries the income figures from your Family Law Financial Affidavit directly into the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, so the numbers on both forms stay consistent and match Florida's current guidelines chart. Start free. Pay once, only when your documents are ready. See Divorce in Florida on Virdix for the full picture of what Virdix covers in Florida today.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice, including on whether a court would deviate from the guideline amount in your case. Forms, fees, and procedures can change; always confirm current information with the Florida Courts or your circuit court clerk. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources: Florida Courts (flcourts.gov), Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e) (06/25), Section 61.30, Florida Statutes