Need To Change How Much You Pay In Child Support? Know These 2 Things

When you are responsible for paying child support, the amount you owe is decided by the court.  While you and your former spouse cannot personally decide to change child support payments, there are ways that it can be changed based on certain situations with a judge's approval.  Here is what you need to know.

Did Circumstances Change?

A judge will typically require some sort of major change to occur in order to change child support payments.  Since this is up to the judge's discretion, it is difficult to list guaranteed reasons to change child support payments.  However, there are some reasons that will be taken into consideration.

If you're now supporting another child, your state could have limits specifying how much of your income can go towards child support.  Another child could require the child support payments to change to fit under the state limits.  Custody changes could also change the need for child support.  If you now have custody, you could be owed child support instead of needing to pay for it. If your former spouse remarried, causing their household income to increase, child support could also be considered unnecessary.    

Disabilities, injuries, and illnesses that affect your ability to work could be a valid reason to change child support payments as well.  If you lost your job and cannot find another one that pays just as well, child support payments may be lowered according to your new income level.

Not all changes will result in child support payments going down.  If a child has a medical emergency, more child support could be requested to deal with the financial burden that comes with it.  If your child's cost of living were to increase, child support payments can also increase.

Is It Permanent or Temporary?

Be aware that child support payments can be permanent or temporary, and that may be reflected according to the circumstances.  For example, a temporary injury that causes you to not be able to work may only result in a temporary reduction of child support payments.  If the disability is permanent, then a permanent payment reduction may be in order.

If you want to have the best chance of getting the results you desire when it comes to child support payments, you should work with a family lawyer in your area.  They can argue on your behalf to a judge to ensure your reasons for changing child support payment amounts are valid. Visit websites like http://WWW.TML-LAW.com.

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