Hanover Child Support Modifications Lawyers in Worcester County

There are several reasons why a parent may request changes to their current support order. For example, you can request a change to the amount of support you pay or receive, or you could petition the Court to modify other specific financial aspects of the current agreement.

The circumstances which prompted the complaint for modification impact the type of alterations you may request. For instance, if your child becomes ill and is incurring significant, ongoing medical expenses, you may request the Court to increase your ex-spouse’s contributions to your child’s healthcare costs or increase child support. Increased earnings by either party will usually have an effect on what the guidelines presume to be the correct support amount to be paid. The guidelines also change approximately every four years, which can automatically influence whether a child support order increases or decreases. A Hanover attorney can help you navigate the process of requesting specific modifications to your current child support order.

Situations That May Justify Changing a Child Support Order in Hanover

A variety of circumstances may prompt someone to speak with a local attorney about seeking a child support modification. Generally, a shift in either parent’s circumstances that makes the current order unsustainable, inadequate, or no longer applicable, is when someone will begin to seek a legally binding modification of a prior child support order.

For example, a parent who loses their job or becomes disabled and is no longer able to meet their current support obligation may request a change to their existing order. Alternatively, if one parent receives a substantial increase in salary, the other party may petition for either a decrease in the amount they must pay or an increase in their ex’s support obligation based on their higher earnings.

A change in the child’s current custody arrangement could also form the basis of a successful complaint for modification. In Massachusetts, generally, if the child support calculation produces a support order different than what the amount currently being paid is, one parent can seek a modification.

Whether it is wise to seek a modification can depend upon a number of different factors as well. If the prior order puts you at a likely advantage, even if you are able to seek a modification, you may not want to put anything at risk by filing in court.

For example, let’s say that Dad was paying $120 per week for two children at the time of his divorce based on his current income. Fast forward down the road to one child graduating from college and the other graduating from high school. Technically, the way that the child support guidelines are currently written, he can seek to have the older child removed from the calculation and have the automatic decrease in the child support calculation based on the younger child now being over the age of 18. However, Dad’s income is now three times higher than what it was at the time of the divorce and the child support guidelines would produce a child support order that is significantly greater than the $120 per week he is currently paying. In a case like that, it would not be wise to seek a modification even though you could.