Clearwater Child Support Modification Lawyer
As circumstances change, your original child support order may require changes, as well. On the other hand, one parent may request a modification due to circumstantial changes and the other may not agree with the modification. When child support modifications cannot be resolved amicably between the two parents, the issue must be put before a judge who, unlike you, does not fully understand what is at stake or all of the pieces to this complicated puzzle. In all cases, the judge will require evidence of a substantial and unanticipated change in circumstances, and that the proposed change be in the best interest of the child—all of which can be hard to show.
Why a Modification May be Necessary
- Child Care Costs Change: As a baby gets older, the receiving parent may need to go back to work or take on more hours at a job they already have. This means that daycare becomes necessary, and the annual average cost of childcare in Florida is $8,299, according to the Boston Globe. Conversely, if child care costs are no longer a factor because the child is going to school now, a modification may be in order in favor of the paying parent;
- Income Change: If the receiving parent lost their job, their ability to pay for their child’s necessities is hampered. Similarly, if the paying parent has an income loss, they may no longer be able to pay as much in child support. On the other hand, if either parent has a large income increase, a modification may also be in order;
- Healthcare Costs Change: A change in your child’s health, such as developing an illness or major injury, is reason to request a modification. Additionally, rising healthcare costs are getting out of control, and the greed of pharmaceuticals and insurance providers is hurting the average single parent who is trying to raise a child on what may already be insufficient funds. In 2010, the average American spent around $2,500 in healthcare per year. In 2018, that number surged to nearly $4,000, according to CNBC. And, by 2023, the average expenditure for healthcare is expected to reach $5,000 per American, double what it was in 2010. Barring some major change in the healthcare industry or law, it will become increasingly expensive to pay for your child’s medical needs and insurance coverage; and
- Other Reasons for Modification Include: Change in alimony, parents’ health insurance changes, educational costs change, tax reasons, change in parenting time, and more.
A Clearwater Child Support Modification Lawyer is Here to Help
When judgements go wrong, an unfair modification may be made or a necessary child support modification may be denied. This is why you need an experienced child support modification attorney at your side to argue your case in court, as well as negotiate strongly out of court with the goal of resolving the dispute without the presence of a judge. Call the Clearwater child support modification attorneys of Cairns Law today at 727-683-1472.
