How to change a child support order

California parents are required to provide financial support for their children after their marriage ends. The amount that a parent must provide is based on a number of factors such as their disposable income and the number of children they have. It’s possible that a child support order will be modified at some point after it is issued.

Why would a child support order be modified?

A judge may be willing to modify an existing child support order if it has been several years since it was first issued. An order may also be altered if a child’s needs change or if a parent experiences a change in financial circumstances. For example, you may be ordered to pay more per month if your income increases or your child’s other parent becomes unemployed.

How do you go about altering a child support order?

If you have a good relationship with your child’s other parent, he or she may agree to an informal modification. This might mean that they will refrain from cashing any checks that you provide every month or refrain from taking action if you don’t pay in a timely manner. Alternatively, you can file a petition with the appropriate court to have an existing order modified. A hearing will then be held to determine if it would be in your child’s best interest to do so.

The terms of a child support order must be adhered to until or unless they are changed. Failing to do so may result in jail time. Therefore, it is in your best interest to ask for a modification as soon as your circumstances change.