Parents often view child support as static. In other words, they expect support obligations to remain consistent indefinitely. However, child support modification hearings occur frequently for a variety of different reasons.
Although it can be uncomfortable to ask for more financial assistance, doing so is sometimes what is best for the children in the family. A successful child support modification can allow one parent to afford a child’s basic necessities. Adequate support can also help them prepare for a child’s future, possibly by setting money aside for college. Many parents dislike the idea of asking for more support, but doing so is often necessary to ensure a child’s financial stability now and in the future.
How can a support modification help ensure a child’s future financial comfort?
By addressing support shortfalls
As cost of living expenses increase, available child support may fall short of meeting a child’s basic needs. Particularly in scenarios where one parent goes into debt to pay for child-rearing expenses or where children have unusually high care costs, a modification of support might be necessary to protect family finances.
Sometimes, one parent requests a support modification because of a sudden increase in household expenses. An injury to a dependent child or inflation might warrant a review of child support because a parent can no longer cover all of a child’s necessary expenses.
By sharing good fortune with the children
Another reason that one parent may ask the courts to review child support is that the other has experienced an improvement in circumstances. Maybe they lost their job shortly before a divorce and have since found gainful employment. Maybe they received a promotion at work that has significantly increased their take-home pay.
Child support calculations look at not just the needs of the children but also the ability of the parent to pay. When one parent has a substantial improvement in financial circumstances, that may warrant an increase in what they pay to support their children. The additional money sent in child support can help the other parent increase the child’s standard of living or set money aside for their future needs, such as college tuition.
Making the decision to ask for more child support isn’t greedy or vindictive. It is often necessary for the financial protection of dependent children. Parents who notice an uptick in costs or who learn about a co-parent’s increase in income may need to request a review and modification of their existing support arrangement to better provide for their children.