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How do I modify a child support order?

On Behalf of | Nov 22, 2018 | modifications to family law orders

In Georgia, a parent may be required to pay child support to their children if they are not the primary caretakers of those youths. Child support in Georgia is established by statute and, generally, parents pay a portion of their income to their kids when they are subject to child support orders. If children have specific needs, a parent may be asked to pay more than what is established by statute to ensure that their children’s requirements are met.

However, the unfortunate circumstance of a parent not paying their mandatory child support occurs with frequency in Georgia and throughout the rest of the nation. While a parent who chooses to avoid their payments because they do not want to make them may be pursued through child support enforcement efforts, a parent who does not pay because they cannot may have other options.

One option for a parent who has lost their job or otherwise suffered a financial setback is to ask the courts for a modification to their child support order.

Courts will look at the circumstances of the parties to decide if a modification is appropriate. As mentioned above, if a parent loses their job, suffers a health crisis that exhausts their finances, or otherwise takes on a financial liability not of their own making, the court may permit the paying parent to reduce the sums that they are obligated to pay for the benefit of their kids.

Getting a child support modification can mean the difference between a parent doing everything they can for their children and a parent giving up on supporting their kids. Attorneys who work in the family law field are well-positioned to advise their clients on their options for seeking modifications to child support orders in Georgia.