Child support is put in place with good intentions: It is meant to provide financial support for children whose parents are not together. It makes all biological parents financially responsible for their children, regardless of whether they have chosen to have a relationship with them or not. However, those who have been ordered to pay child support often find that it is a heavy financial burden that makes it difficult for them to live a normal life.
Parents with child support orders in place are ordered to pay a sum that is based on their income at the time. Therefore, there is no reason why a parent would not be able to afford their child support order unless their financial situation has changed significantly since the order was made. To modify your child support obligations, you should be able to show that a change in circumstances has taken place.
What constitutes a change of circumstances?
A change in circumstances usually relates to your income as the payer of child support. For example, if you lose your job, you should take action immediately to modify your child support order. It’s also possible to temporarily modify your obligations. For example, if you know that you will not have an income in the next two months, you can ask to have a break from payments during this time.
It’s always best to consider talking to the other parent when planning to modify child support. By doing so, you may be able to come to an agreement with them. If you are worried about not being able to afford your child support obligations in the future, you should explore how the law is designed to protect you.