When child support payments stop arriving, it can be hard to cover your child’s everyday needs while figuring out what to do next. Keeping track of missed payments can help you explain the problem and support your efforts to collect the money owed.
Here are the records to gather and organize when documenting unpaid child support in Florida.
Child support payment history
A detailed payment history helps you identify exactly when the other parent fell behind. For each payment period, note the amount due, the amount received and any remaining balance.
If the other parent makes only a partial payment, record that amount rather than marking the payment as complete. Compare your notes with the schedule in your court order to calculate how much remains unpaid.
Bank and payment records
Bank statements and receipts provide proof of the support payments you actually received. If payments come through Florida’s State Disbursement Unit, compare its payment history with your bank records.
You should also retain proof of direct payments, such as transfers or checks, since those amounts might not appear in the state’s records. These details can help resolve disagreements about whether a payment occurred.
Messages about missed payments
Written communications can help establish what the other parent acknowledged or promised regarding overdue support. Preserve texts and emails discussing late payments, partial payments or promises to pay. You should also retain the original messages with dates and sender details. If you discuss payments by phone, write down the date and a brief summary of the conversation afterward.
Your child support order
Your court order establishes how much the other parent must pay and when payments fall due. Review the latest order and any later changes to ensure your calculations reflect the correct amounts. Under Florida Statutes Section 61.14, courts can enforce support orders and address certain changes in support obligations.
Protect your child’s rights to proper support
Accurate payment histories, financial records and written communications can help you establish how much child support remains unpaid. Once you organize these materials by date, review them for missing payments or discrepancies. If the other parent disputes the balance or you need help collecting overdue support, a Florida family law attorney can review your records and help you determine what to do next.