When a person has a reliable paycheck and a steady job, child support payments are often easy to make. If an obstacle arises, however, it can become difficult to continue making child support payments. In these situations, it often becomes critical to obtain a child support modification. While there is not any guarantee that a court will approved a request for child support modification, one of the best first steps a person can take is to file the required paperwork.
How to Obtain a Modification of a Child Support Order
If you need to request a modification of your child support order, contact the closest Child Support Enforcement agency in Georgia. After contacting the agency, you will be required to file a motion for modification describing the conditions that have changes to warrant the change in support payments. It is important to remember that either parent in Georgia is able to file for a modification of child support payments. Some of the most common reasons why people seek child support modifications include the following:
- Additional costs related to raising the child
- Change in income
- Loss of employment
- Unforeseen medical expenses
It should be noted that while parents in Georgia are generally required to wait at least two years before requesting a modification of a child support order, a parent who loses his or her job is able to file for modification of a child support order immediately. The child support for parents who lose employment also stops accruing at the original rate once a request for modification is served on the other parent.
Steps on Successfully Navigating a Child Support Modification
If you find it necessary to obtain a modification of a child support order, there are some important steps that you should remember to take, which include the following:
- Act immediately. In the case that you are unable to make child support payments, you should not wait because this can result in missed payments adding up.
- Learn as much as possible about the child support system because a better understanding of the child support system can increase your chances of obtaining the best possible results.
- Inform the other parent about the situation. In some cases, the parent might be willing to agree to a child support modification. While court approval will still be required, the likelihood of obtaining a court’s approval will increase greatly if the other parent first agrees to the modification.
- Stay up to date with the payments even if you do not have an adequate amount of resources to make your full payments. Doing so displays to the court that you are trying to keep up to date with the required payments.
Speak with an Experienced Family Law Attorney
If you have questions or concerns about the child support process, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced family law attorney. Contact Vayman & Teitelbaum P.C. today to schedule a case evaluation.
