Need To Change Your Child Support Order? You Have Options

On Behalf of | Dec 13, 2019 | Child Support |

When a person goes through a divorce, his or her life changes in many ways. If you went through this process, you know that the changes brought about by a divorce do not necessarily stop once everything is final. In fact, you may find that your life circumstances changed to the point where your current support order is no longer feasible or practical.

There are times where it is reasonable to change the terms of a support order, especially if you can no longer make full payments. No matter how dire your situation may be, it’s not enough to simply decide to start paying less each month. There are steps you can take to seek the changes you need and want, allowing you to both provide for your children and to meet other financial obligations you have.

When are changes possible?

There are limited circumstances in which it is possible to secure changes to a child support order. In order to get a court to approve your requested modification, you’ll need to be able to prove that it is because of your circumstances and not due to a lack of desire or effort. Some examples of why people may need a modification include:

  • Job loss
  • Medical emergency
  • New marriage or birth of additional children
  • Decrease in income
  • Financial hardship of any kind

It is in your best interests to try and pay as much as possible on time until you are able to get the changes you need. While sometimes it is possible to secure permanent changes in a support order, you can request temporary changes if you believe that your circumstances will allow you to make your payments in full again in the future.

Know your options

Some parents are able to agree to changes in child support out of court, but these changes are not legally enforceable. Verbal agreements are good, but it is still in your best interests to make sure you take all of the appropriate legal steps to make these changes official.

Needing to modify your support order has no bearing on your custody rights and ability to be a good parent. If you think you could be eligible for a modification of your child support order, you may want to start by seeking the assistance of an experienced Colorado family law attorney. An assessment of your case can help you see if you have grounds for a modification and what steps may be necessary to accomplish this goal.

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