Child support orders help to ensure that children have the essentials for a safe and comfortable upbringing. The courts look at the allocation of parenting time and the income of the parents, as well as the standard of living during their relationship, to determine how much child support is appropriate.
Factors, including the number of children in the family and even other children that the paying spouse must support, can also influence the amount of support ordered. Recipient parents often feel frustrated because child support tends to fall far short of the true costs of raising a child.
Do the courts ever increase child support order amount terms?
Reviews and modifications are available
It is possible at any time to ask the courts to review a child support order. Any significant change in circumstances could theoretically alter the amount of support required. If the paying parent has good fortune, such as a promotion, that could potentially increase their support obligations. Changes in the allocation of parenting time could also affect financial responsibilities.
Additionally, challenges for the recipient parent could justify a modification. The loss of their job or a drastic and provable increase in their child-rearing expenses could both warrant a child support review. A review can possibly result in a modification that increases the amount of support ordered.
Parents feeling frustrated by inequity or increasing cost of living expenses may be able to ask the courts to revisit their current child support order. Working with an attorney can make it easier for people to recognize when a modification is possible and to navigate the court system effectively.