Examining an existing child support order is often recommended at least once every two or three years. As the age of the children, income levels of the parents, and time spent with the children change, so should the monthly child support amount. The court will make a determination of whether or not a change is substantial enough to warrant adjusting the support amount. The court will not consider circumstances that have previously existed and been presented to the court and will not adjust support amounts on a frequent basis. Any change that warrants an adjustment of support should be major like a change in income.

Your Suggestion

1. All is Flux
   Child support is always modifiable based on change in circumstance. Job loss, health and disability issues, an unexpected windfall -- each can change the amount of child support, but never the detriment of the child.
   Contributed on 6/20/2007 by: DivorceDex.com Staff

   Category: Child Support   (Applicable in All States)
2. Change in Visitation (Parenting Time)
   When two parents get a divorce, a visitation (parenting time) schedule is put in place. In many states the amount of visitation (overnights) will be considered in determining the amount of monthly child support. The thought being that the non-custodial parent should not be paying the other parent to support the child while he or she is with them. As time passes after the divorce, the visitation schedule naturally changes, so it is important to reevaluate the number of actual overnights. This could have a significant effect on the amount of support that should be paid.
   Contributed on 6/20/2007 by: DivorceDex.com Staff

   Category: Visitation   (Applicable in All States)

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