Life changes over time, so it is important for everyone to be prepared. When a divorce takes place involving children, it is not unusual for one spouse to be asked to pay child support to the other spouse. This money is used to support the cost of raising children. The initial calculations of child support payments is based on a number of factors. Typically, it takes into account the income of each spouse. Then, it also takes a look at the lifestyle the children have been leading. The goal is to maintain the lifestyle of those children after the divorce becomes final.
At the same time, there are situations where child support may need to be changed. What are a few of the reasons why child support payments may need to be increased? What does this mean for the future? There are several important points to keep in mind.
Increasing Child Support Payments: What This Means
Life is unpredictable, and the needs of children can change over time. Therefore, there could be situations where child support payments need to increase as well. In order to increase child support, the parent requesting the increase has to show that the increase is necessary. A few reasons why payments may need to increase include:
- Loss of a Job: If one parent has lost his or her job, then the other parent may need to increase his or her payments to take care of the children.
- A Major Salary Increase: If one parent has had a major, permanent increase in his or her salary, then child support may need to go up.
- Educational Expenses: If one child has entered a lot of educational expenses, such as having to go to a special school, then child support payments may need to go up.
- Medical Expenses: If a child lands in the hospital and is diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, he or she may end up with significant medical bills for the rest of his or her life. In this situation, child support payments may need to be increased.
An increase in child support payments usually requires evidence of a permanent change in the situation of either the parent or the child. A temporary bonus, working overtime, or a one-time bill is not enough to warrant a permanent increase in child support.
Why Might Child Support Payments Be Decreased?
In contrast, there are also situations where child support might need to be decreased. For example, if someone has several children with a new spouse, the judge may be able to reduce child support payments based on these added expenses. In addition, a parent may lose his or her job as a result of a company downsizing. If one parent loses his or her job as a result of circumstances outside of his or her control, the judge may show sympathy and order the child support to be reduced. Child support payments may also drop when one of the children goes to college or becomes a functioning adult on his or her own.
Rely on Edens Law Group
If you are having issues navigating child support issues, then you need to rely on a Chester New Jersey Law Firm. If you are looking for a family lawyer in Chester NJ, then look no further than Edens Law Group. We provide you with access to a family law attorney in Chester NJ. As a Chester attorney specializing in New Jersey family law, we will vigorously defend your rights. Rely on an experienced divorce attorney in Chester NJ to advocate for your best interests. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you navigate child support issues.
