You never know what the future will bring in regard to your finances, so there could come a point when you are no longer able to make your child support payments in full. If you find yourself in this position, you shouldn’t wait a single day to learn more about obtaining a child support modification.
There is no guarantee that the court will grant a modification, but you’ll never know if this is an option until you take the right steps.
These are the steps to take if you want to obtain a child support modification in the near future:
- Learn more about child support laws, including the steps you must take to obtain a modification
- Talk to the other parent, notifying him or her of your financial situation and intentions of requesting a modification
- Don’t assume that you can stop making child support payments, as you need to stick with this to the best of your ability until you receive a final determination from the court
- Document your change in circumstances, such as a job loss or medical emergency, as you need to prove to the court that you are unable to make your payments
- File your request with the appropriate family law court, realizing that you’ll have to provide a variety of information
If the court approves your child support modification request, you can begin to pay the modified amount, which should help from a financial perspective. This can go a long way in helping you support your child, all the while keeping your finances in good shape.
Source: FindLaw, “Child Support Modification Tips,” accessed May 03, 2018