Child support will impact your finances in a number of ways, so it’s important to always have a clear idea of what you’re paying and where the money is going.
At some point, your financial situation may change. For example, if you lose your job, you won’t have the income you’ve come to expect. This can make it more difficult to make your child support payments in full and on time.
While there is no guarantee you can receive a child support modification, it may be within reach. If you want to proceed with requesting a modification, here are a few steps to take:
- Take quick action. Since you’re in a bad financial spot, you need to take action sooner rather than later. Until you do this, the court assumes that you are simply not paying your support, and that’s never a good thing.
- Learn more about child support laws. You need to know the ins and outs of all child support laws, as this will help you formulate a plan that allows you to move forward in the best way possible.
- Talk to the other parent. It may fall on deaf ears, but don’t overlook the fact that your ex-spouse may be willing to agree to a child support modification. To improve your chance of success, don’t be shy about explaining to him or her what’s going on in your life.
- Keep making payments. You don’t want to assume that you will receive a child support modification. Keep making payments, to the best of your ability, all the way through your court hearing.
- Document your financial changes. It’s not good enough to request a child support modification. You need to show the court that you are no longer able to make your payment, such as by proving you are unemployed or undergoing treatment for a serious illness that is keeping you out of work.
Even though you may not realize it, a child support modification may be within reach. When you take the right steps, all the while knowing your legal rights, you can inch closer to an approved modification.