Depending on your circumstances, divorce could lead to a situation in which you are required to make monthly child support payments to the other parent.
Although this will alter your finances, it’s good to know that the money you pay is helping to provide your child with a better life.
At some point, you may realize that you are unable to pay your child support in full. This isn’t a situation you want to deal with, but you never know what the future could bring.
There are many reasons for this, such as if you lost your job or have been diagnosed with a serious illness (such as cancer or a stroke) that keeps you out of work for an extended period of time.
If this happens, it’s time to learn what it takes to request a child support modification.
Follow these tips
You don’t have the legal right to personally change the amount of child support that you pay. Instead, if you need to pay less for any reason, you have to request a modification from the court.
Here are some tips that will put you on the right track:
— Don’t waste any time. You must file your child support modification as soon as possible, as to avoid a situation in which you fall further behind with your payments.
— Know the laws in your state. What types of situations could lead you to request a child support modification?
— Don’t stop making payments. Even if you are unable to pay in full, you should send as much money as possible to the other parent.
— Document your changes. For example, if you lost your job, you can document this in many ways, such as through a termination letter.
— File your child support modification request. The sooner you do this the better.
Since there are many questions and concerns associated with a child support modification, you should never hesitate to lean on the services of a family law attorney.
With professional help, it’s much easier to understand your situation and the steps that you need to take. Even better, you’ll have somebody on your side who can put your mind at ease and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Source: Nov. 30, -0001
