What are the important items to keep in mind when preparing to ask for a modification in child support? When a child support order is handed down by a court in Arizona, you need to comply with it until the order is modified or terminated in some way. Before attempting to modify an existing child support order, it is strongly recommended that you consult with your Arizona family lawyer first. This is so you can understand the procedure for modifying a child support order and complete all of the necessary paperwork appropriately.

Having an attorney help you through this process makes it much more likely that you will avoid some of the common mistakes. You should always work with an experienced attorney for any matter related to your divorce or child support and custody.

What If I Need to Make Changes?

In order to receive a child support modification in Arizona, you must be able to demonstrate a substantial and continuing change in your circumstances that warrants either a higher or a lower child support payment. Any documentation you have to back up this claim can be very important in demonstrating to the court your reasoning for asking for such a change.  This would include, but not necessarily be limited to, your pay stubs, tax records, and a letter from an employer regarding your hours or wages.

Why You Need Legal Help to Assist with Child Support Modification

It can be confusing to try to navigate this process on your own so it’s strongly recommended that you consult with a knowledgeable Arizona family lawyer well in advance of requesting a modification. This helps you to avoid mistakes and to ensure that you have the best possible chance of a modification being taken seriously by the court.

Reasons for Requesting Modification

There are numerous reasons why you may wish to change a child support order, but one of the most common ones is that the paying parent has lost his or her job and is financially unable to continue paying for the current order. In order to demonstrate this in court, you will need to have documentation backing up your situation and be able to explain why the child support order needs to be changed. You will also likely need to demonstrate the efforts you took to find replacement work, especially if that work is making you less money than your prior job. The circumstances must be continuing and substantial in order for the court to consider making a change to an existing child support order.

Do not hesitate to get legal help in this matter as it could be significantly helpful for your case. When you are preparing to ask for modification in child support, it is very important to be organized and to be knowledgeable about how the process works.

This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice regarding Preparing to Ask for a Modification in Child Support, or other family law issues, please feel free to contact Lindsay A.M. Olivarez at 480.461.5300, log on to udallshumway.com, or contact an attorney in your area. Udall Shumway PLC is located in Mesa, Arizona and is a full service law firm. We assist Individuals, families, businesses, schools and municipalities in Mesa and the Phoenix/East Valley.