If you have a child support order and worry about the amount or other details, remember that child support orders are temporary. They aren’t permanent, and they’re always subject to change. There are a lot of factors that can go into determining child support. Sometimes those factors change for you or the other parent. Making child support orders permanent could cause a big problem for both parents in the future. So, there would have to be provisions to adjust them.
Making Modifications the Right Way
Making any modifications to your child support order has to be handled legally through the court system. Some common reasons for modifications can be a significant change in income for one or both parents or an increase or decrease in parenting time. But it’s essential that you and the other parent don’t just verbally agree to these changes. If you do that, and there are problems later, you don’t have the legal standing and proof you need. You could violate your child support order.
Whether you and the other parent agree on some changes, or you need to ask the court to make adjustments for your new circumstances, you always want to go through legal channels for any change to a child support order. Especially for changes that you and the other parent can’t agree on, getting an attorney to represent your interests can reduce the chance of being denied a child support adjustment.
What if You Lose Your Job?
Losing your job might seem like an automatic adjustment to child support, but that’s a common misconception. You’ll still need to go to court, show evidence that you no longer have a job, and ask the court to reduce the amount or terminate the child support order. Until and unless the court does that, you’re still obligated for that monthly payment every month. In short, petition the court for any changes you or the other parent want to make to a child support order and do it right away if job loss is involved.
Depending on your other assets and the circumstances around your job loss, the court may still want you to pay child support. That could be a reduced amount, but it’s still important to make sure you have the means to pay what’s being required of you. Going to court with a job loss and no legal representation may put you at risk.
Need to talk about making adjustments to a child support agreement? Reach out to Mohajer Law Firm today. We can help you address any concerns you have and talk about the options for your case. Every situation is different and unique, which is why you want to make sure you have an attorney on your side. With a free initial consultation, you can better understand the likely outcome of petitioning the court for a child support order modification.
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