If you and your ex-spouse have children together in California, the court may have ordered one of you to make child support payments when your divorce was finalized. These payments can ensure the parent primarily responsible for tending to your children’s living expenses and needs is financially able to do so.
However, there are instances when a parent who has been ordered to pay child support may petition the court to modify a child support order. Whether you’re paying child support and believe a modification to the current order is necessary, or you’re receiving child support and you think a modification your ex is requesting isn’t justified, strongly consider enlisting the help of a qualified lawyer.
Your odds of demonstrating to the court why a child support modifications request should or shouldn’t be granted will be greater if you have proper legal representation. At The Law Offices of Teresa A. Beyers, a Newport Beach child support modifications attorney will present our case to the judge thoroughly and effectively.
Reasons for Child Support Modifications in Newport Beach
The following are among the more common reasons a judge may choose to grant a child support modifications request in California:
- Income changes: When a court issues a child support order, one of the main factors influencing the amount of money a parent must pay is their income. If a parent who’s been ordered to pay child support loses their job and likely won’t be able to easily find a job earning a similar income in the near future, they may no longer be able to make child support payments.
- Health: A parent might no longer need to make child support payments if they develop a health condition that interferes with their ability to work. On the other hand, if a child develops a health condition, the parent receiving child support payments may request that the court modify an order so that the other parent pays more than they currently pay.
- Changing needs: The purpose of child support payments is to ensure a child’s needs are met. Those needs can change for various reasons. For example, perhaps the custodial parent begins attending school to develop qualifications that will allow them to pursue a new career. They might thus need to pay for child-care services during the day. This can necessitate an increase in child support payments.
- Incarceration: Being incarcerated or institutionalized will severely limit a parent’s ability to pay child support.
- New relationships: A new relationship can impact whether an existing child support order is necessary. For example, maybe a parent receiving child support payments enter into a romantic relationship with a fairly wealthy partner who provides for their children’s welfare. In these circumstances, it might no longer be necessary for the other parent to continue paying child support.
How a Newport Beach Child Support Modifications Attorney Helps
A court will typically only grant a request to modify a child support agreement if it can be proven that circumstances have changed substantially for one or both parents. A Newport Beach child support modifications attorney at The Law Offices of Teresa A. Beyers can assist you by providing the court with evidence that a modification is warranted. Or, your lawyer can demonstrate that a request to modify the order shouldn’t be granted based on the minimal degree to which your ex’s life circumstances have changed.
In either case, the best way to learn more about what we can do for you is to start today by contacting us online or calling our Newport Beach family law office at 949-500-8733. We’ll ensure you have the representation you deserve.