Florida Statute § 61.30 establishes Florida’s child support guidelines in divorce proceedings. As one court recognized, Florida’s child support guidelines are not actually “guidelines.” Boyt v. Romanow, 664 So. 2d 995, 997 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995). Instead, section 61.30’s support guidelines provide a mandatory schedule of child support intended to meet the minimum needs of a child in relation to the parents’ income level. Id.
Parties to a divorce sometimes misconstrue child support as an obligation imposed on one spouse for the benefit of an adult. Under Florida law, however, child support is a dual obligation owed by both biological parents to their child. Barnett v. Barnett, 802 So. 2d 1203 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002). This obligation begins at the moment the child is born. Id. Since every parent has a legal obligation to support his or her child, Florida public policy requires parents to contribute to their child’s wellbeing. Williams v. Beagle, 777 So. 2d 1213 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001).