Divorced parents in Florida might find themselves needing a child support order modification at some point as they raise their children. There are a variety of reasons that a modification request might be needed as life situations and the children’s needs evolve.
Reasons custodial parents might request a modification
A custodial parent might experience situations that result in needing a modification for their child support order. These situations include:
- The custodial parent losing their job involuntarily or becoming disabled therefore experiencing a significant decrease in income
- The custodial parent realizing the non-custodial parent has experienced a significant increase in income due to an inheritance, promotion or career change
- The child needing additional support for educational, extracurricular or medical needs
Reasons why a non-custodial parent might request a modification
In the same vein, a non-custodial parent’s life situation might change leading them to request a modification. The reasons for requesting support order modification include:
- The non-custodial parent losing their job involuntarily, becoming disabled or retirement, therefore, experiencing a decrease in income
- The non-custodial parent being sent to prison
- The non-custodial parent remarries or has a new child
In any situation where a parent requests a child support order modification, the parent must be able to provide supporting evidence for why the change is needed. As well, state laws vary in relation to the different situations. For example, not all states will consider going to prison enough of a reason to change the child support order.
Modifications can be temporary or permanent
Just as some changes are permanent and others are not, support order modifications can be used for temporary relief or for permanent changes. For example, a modification might be made temporarily to provide additional funds for school tuition and expenses or medical emergencies. However, permanent changes might be made due to a child’s or a parent’s disability or other long-term medical needs.
