It’s not unusual for divorcing couples to work out the terms of a child custody and support arrangement, present the plan to the court, and have it approved. While that plan may work fine for a number of years, circumstances can develop that make it practical to modify the support order in some manner. That’s where advice from a local Child Support Lawyer in Citrus Heights CA comes in handy. Here are some of the things that the lawyer will tell the client.
Understanding Where to File the Modification
In most cases, the Child Support Lawyer in Citrus Heights CA will file the request for a modification with the court that issued the original support order. This is true even if the custodial and non-custodial parents no longer live within that court’s jurisdiction. Unless there was a previous action to move the oversight of the original order to another jurisdiction, the original court must review the request to modify the support arrangement.
What Reasons Will the Court Accept?
Modifying child support arrangements are not done just because one or both parents want the change. There must be a compelling reason before the court will consider authorizing the modification. For example, if the non-custodial parent is disabled in an accident and can no longer provide the financial support required by the original arrangement, there is a good chance that the court will entertain a modification.
Keep in mind that modification don’t have to be permanent. If the change in the non-custodial parent’s situation is only expected to last for a short time, the court may grant a temporary modification. At the end of the agreed upon period, the terms will revert to the original arrangement.
Remember that the judge who reviews the request for modification is primarily concerned with the well- being of the children. The goal is to ensure that each parent is doing whatever is within their ability to provide the kids with the essentials until they are old enough to take care of themselves. If a non-custodial parent believes that there are grounds for modifying an existing order, Contact us today. It won’t take long to review the situation and provide the client with advice that makes it easier to decide how to proceed.
