Modifying Child Support

As a Portland family law attorney, we get a number of phone calls relating to modifying child support. Ultimately, both parents have the direct responsibility to support their children to the best of their ability. However, the issue is often not that simple. The issue of changing child support owed is often a contentious item. As a result, we often counsel our clients to not get caught up in the emotion of the issue but to focus on what is important: that your children are well taken care of.

How to Modify Child Support from a Portland Family Law Attorney

In Oregon, a person most generally wait at least thirty-five months since the last modification was proposed or reviewed before requesting a new modification of child support. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. The main exception is that a request can occur sooner if there has been what the court calls a significant change in one or both parent’s circumstances or conditions. This can include:

• Change of physical custody
• The needs of the children have changed
• The number of children involved has changed
• The financial situation of one or both of the parents has changed.

Often, clients seek our services when either party has had a change in their financial circumstances. For instance, the non-custodial parent can request a modification if the custodial parent finds a better paying job or has an increase in pay at their current job. The reasoning is that now the other parent can afford more support for the children. This also works the other way around. For example, if the custodial parenting finds themselves making significantly more or less money, they can request a modification to account for that increase or decrease in their pay.

If you are requesting more or less support, modification cases can be difficult to handle. You need a Portland family law attorney who is both aggressive and reasonable to look after your interests. At Gzik Law, PC we strive to take a client first approach in each family law case we handle.