The parent who is on the receiving end of child support in Washington, D.C., may be able to request child support modifications if their child has experienced a change in medical needs or if unforeseen circumstances have occurred. The parent who is paying into child support may be able to request a child support modification if they can prove to the courts that they have sustained a significant drop in their income or recently experienced a job loss.
It is important to note, however, that some states may have rules regarding how often child support requests will be reviewed. For example, modification requests may be reviewed in Arlington County every 24 months. This means that if you requested for a child support modification approximately 18 months ago, you would still have to wait another 6 months before you could submit another request. For this reason, it is important for the custodial parents to request child support modifications only for important reasons, such as a significant change in an ex’s income or change in the child’s financial situation. You do not want to request a modification for a petty reason only to have your child need further income for education or medical expenses later down the line.
If you happen to be the non-custodial parent, you need to understand that the courts will investigate your child support modification request thoroughly by comparing your current income to the money you were earning previously when the child support agreement was initially made. If there is not a significant difference between the two, your request will most likely be denied.
In the event that significant changes are not obvious, having the input of a qualified attorney may be a valuable asset to have before pursuing any child support modification. An attorney may help you understand your legal options and file all necessary documentation in a timely manner.
