Raising children gets more and more expensive as they grow and prices for food and other essential items keep going up. Ideally, even if the parents are divorced, they should both collaborate to ensure that their children receive the proper care.
But, what if your co-parent will not contribute more financially even though he or she can? On the other hand, what if you are the one paying child support and want to pay less? Either way, you might want to look into modifying an existing child support order.
One of the main things the courts will consider when petitioned to modify a child support order is whether or not there is a significant change of circumstances to justify doing so. This is done to keep people from bogging down the system with frivolous requests.
Here are some of the reasons the courts will deem valid for such modifications:
1. A lasting change in income
A substantial change in either parent’s income can convince a judge to make child support modifications. That could potentially increase or decrease what is paid.
2. A significant change in parenting time
How much time each parent spends with children after custody has been decided tends to change from time to time. If there are considerable changes, these can deem child support modifications necessary.
3. A major change in the child’s needs
Other significant changes that can urge the courts to modify a child support order include a change in the child’s financial needs (either more or less). For example, a child may need special tutors or even special schooling to accommodate a disability.
For the best results, it is wise to obtain proper legal guidance if you’re considering asking the court to modify the support your receive or pay.