Child support orders are important documents that help ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents. However, life circumstances can change and sometimes these orders need to get modified.

WHEN YOU CHANGE CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS

If you and the other parent switch from joint custody to sole custody, or vice versa, it’s likely that your child support order will need to change. The reason for this is that when both parents share custody of the children, each parent is generally responsible for a portion of the children’s expenses. However, when one parent has sole custody, that parent is usually responsible for all of the children’s expenses.

WHEN ONE PARENT’S INCOME CHANGES

If either you or the other parent experiences a significant change in income, that may warrant a modification to the child support order. A significant increase in income may mean that the non-custodial parent is able to pay more child support, while a significant decrease in income may mean that the custodial parent needs to receive more child support.

WHEN THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD CHANGE

As children get older, their needs tend to change. For example, a younger child may need more financial support for things like childcare and education, while an older child may need more support for things like extracurricular activities and transportation. In this case, a modification to the child support order may be necessary to ensure that the child’s needs are being met.

WHEN ONE PARENT RELOCATES

If either you or the other parent moves to a different city or state, that may also warrant a modification to the child support order per family law. The reason for this is that the cost of living in different areas can vary greatly, and the child support order may need to be adjusted accordingly.

If you think that your child support order should be modified, you’ll need to file a petition with the court. The court will then review your case and make a determination as to whether or not a modification is warranted.