Divorce With Kids: What Every High-Earner Needs to Know
When children are involved, divorce isn’t just about dividing property — it’s about protecting your role as a parent, your children’s stability, and their future opportunities. For high-income families, the stakes are even higher: time-sharing, private school, extracurriculars, and relocation all become emotional battlegrounds.
Here’s what every parent needs to know:
1. Best Interests of the Child
The court’s guiding principle is always: what’s best for the child.
That means:
- Parenting time & scheduling — who they see, when, and how often
- Home stability — consistency matters more than convenience
- Co-parent cooperation — judges watch how you communicate and whether you put your child above conflict
💥 If you let anger or pettiness drive your decisions, the court will see it — and it could cost you precious time with your child.
2. Time-Sharing Isn’t Always 50/50
Many assume “shared custody” means a perfect split. It doesn’t.
Courts focus on practicality, not preference:
- Where do the children go to school?
- Who has the more flexible schedule?
- Who provides day-to-day stability?
💥 The risk: If you don’t build a solid parenting plan, you may end up with less time than you imagined.
3. Lifestyle & Children’s Opportunities
High-income families often provide more than the basics — private school, extracurriculars, travel, tutors, and enrichment programs.
In divorce, these “extras” can quickly become points of conflict:
- Who pays for private school tuition?
- Will extracurriculars continue at the same level?
- How do you split costs for travel or enrichment?
💥 Without clear agreements, your child’s opportunities can shrink — and the fight over who pays can drag you both back into court.
4. Parental Conflict & Its Impact on Kids
Divorce is hard enough for children — but how parents behave can make it far worse.
Judges pay close attention to:
- Whether you bad-mouth the other parent in front of the children
- How well you cooperate in scheduling and communication
- Whether your behavior shields your kids from conflict or drags them into it
💥 The harsh truth: If the court believes you put conflict above your children, you risk losing time-sharing or decision-making authority.
5. Child Support Isn’t All-Encompassing
Many parents assume child support covers every expense. It doesn’t.
Florida’s child support is designed to cover basic needs — food, shelter, clothing. But on top of that, parents are often responsible for sharing additional expenses like:
- Uncovered medical bills and co-pays
- Glasses, braces, and dental work
- Extracurricular activities and sports registrations
- Private tutors, test prep, and enrichment
- Counseling or therapy — often needed when children are caught in the middle of conflict
💥 Child support is just the beginning. Without a detailed parenting plan and financial agreement, you could find yourself back in court arguing over every pair of cleats, every therapy session, and every unexpected bill.
👉 The more high-income the family, the bigger these “extras” become — and the faster disputes spiral.
Your children come first. We help create parenting plans that protect them – and secure your future.
Call us today to protect what is rightfully yours – before it’s too late.
**Please note to ensure you receive a timely response from a member of our staff, please include family@costalawyers.com in all email correspondence. Thank you **
