What do you do when child support isn’t enough?
When your child support payments fail to meet your children’s actual needs, the inadequate support can significantly impact their quality of life and opportunities.
You aren’t in an uncommon situation. The needs of a child can change dramatically over time. If there has been a substantial change in circumstances since your child support order was established, you can take steps to address the situation.
1. Document the changes
The court requires proof of significant changes in circumstances to justify modifying your existing child support order. Gather evidence showing your co-parent’s income has increased through salary raises, bonuses, new business ventures or investment returns. Document increases in your children’s expenses, such as rising school tuition, additional extracurricular activities or special needs that have developed since the original order.
2. File a formal modification request
Sometimes parents will work out an informal agreement when a child support modification is necessary, but that provides no real protection for anybody involved. Modifications are not valid until the court has approved them, so make sure that the formal modification request and supporting documentation are both properly filed.
3. Prepare for court proceedings if necessary
If your co-parent isn’t willing to agree that a modification of support is necessary, you may have to prepare for court and trial. Child support modifications can often become contentious, so it is important to be as organized as possible with your documentation.
Modifying insufficient child support requires understanding your legal options and gathering compelling evidence to demonstrate why current payments inadequately serve your children’s best interests. Taking action to secure appropriate support helps maintain the standard of living your children deserve while protecting their future educational and developmental opportunities. Seeking legal guidance helps you navigate the modification process effectively.