Child support may be on the minds of many parents whether they are paying child support or are receiving child support. The time may come when one or both of the parents wants to modify child support. When that situation arises, parents should be familiar with how it may be done.
In general, it may be possible to modify child support based on a substantial and ongoing change in circumstances. Examples can include the following.
A change in income
A change in income that may warrant a child support modification can include either a decrease or increase in income. Whatever change is made to the child support amount, it must change by the greater of 15% or $50 for the family law court to grant the change request.
A change in the parenting plan
If there is a substantial change in the parenting plan, it may be possible to alter the amount of child support to reflect the change. The family law court can modify the child support order to reflect the actual parenting plan and the amount of time the child actually spends with each of the parents as a result.
A change in expenses
Certain changes in expenses can impact the amount of child support that is paid. Childcare costs or health insurance costs may impact the child support order. In addition, spousal support, other child support orders and tax consequences can all impact the amount of child support that is paid.
Because a child support modification can be an important topic for parents, they should be familiar with the guidelines used to determine child support and when a child support modification may be granted. Armed with that knowledge, parents, both paying and receiving child support, can better navigate their child support concerns.