Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. One day you’re cruising along, and the next, everything changes. You get a new job, your child’s needs change or your family grows.
However, one thing that doesn’t automatically adjust to these changes is your child support order. That’s why taking proactive steps is essential to ensure the order reflects your new reality.
Common reasons to request a modification
You may think that child support orders are set in stone, but they’re not. You can ask the Division of Child Support (DCS) to review the order for changes at any time. Here are just a few reasons why you may want to modify the order:
- Changes in employment status: If you or the other parent have undergone a change in employment, resulting in an increase or decrease in income, it is essential to reassess your child support obligations. This alteration in income may have a direct impact on the amount of child support paid or received.
- Changes in childcare and medical costs: Should your child’s care or medical expenses change, it is necessary to revisit your child support order to ensure that it accurately reflects these updates.
- New child: If you have had a new child since the court established the initial child support order, your financial responsibilities have likely undergone a significant shift.
It is necessary to be proactive and modify your child support order, as it does not occur automatically. It can be worth the effort as it enables you to provide optimal support for your child.
Ensuring fair child support arrangements
Failing to modify your child support order in a timely manner can have far-reaching consequences for your child. It may result in financial instability, uncertainty and even emotional distress.
It is critical to review and update the order to ensure that it accurately reflects your current circumstances. This way, you can be more confident about your financial obligations to your child.
