Whether you have a new job or are experiencing financial hardship, it is possible to adjust your child support order and fortunately, the court displays a reasonable level of flexibility when it comes to support modifications. The following tips may give you a better idea of how to make your change possible.

Requirements for Modifying Support Orders

If you and your former spouse agree that a change to the child support order is necessary, you can draw up a stipulation and present it to the judge. From the moment the judge signs your agreement, it becomes a court-mandated order and must be followed by you and your former spouse.

Should you and your spouse be unable to come to terms with the need for modified orders, you will have to file a motion with the court. You will both attend a hearing where you'll have a chance to explain your opinion about the support orders. Most modifications are approved if a significant change has occurred in your life.

These changes may include any of the following:

• A financial or medical hardship
• The loss of a job or a new job with a different income
• Either parent become disabled
• Remarriage
• A change in the child's needs
• Updated child support laws

Whether the modifications are permanent or temporary is up to the discretion of the court and depends on your unique circumstances. It is especially to put your agreement in writing with a signature by the judge, as verbal agreements may not hold up in court.

Our firm has nearly a decade of family law experience and is eager to help you reach your child support goals. Get in touch with a Modesto divorce attorney today!