Even after the trial has concluded, and the Court has entered orders pertaining to child support, both parties should review several child support related issues frequently.
The amount of child support can be modified if there is a “substantial and continuing change in circumstances.” The substantial and continuing change in circumstances could be a new job, the loss of a job, a significant inheritance, or other changes in financial circumstances of either party. The substantial and continuing change in circumstances could also be the emancipation of a child.
The obligation to pay child support for a child ends when the child is emancipated, which occurs when the child reaches 18 (or when the child is no longer attending high school, if the 18th birthday comes before high school graduation). A child is also emancipated if the child is married. Support for disabled children can go beyond those dates.
However, there is no automatic increase in child support as a child reaches age 12, and no automatic decrease in child support as a child reaches 18 and is no longer attending high school, if support is still owed for another child. If you wish to modify child support based upon these substantial and continuing change in circumstances, you will need to petition the Court for a modification.
Parties to a current child support order are required to exchange certain information regarding child support every two years. Information to be exchanged includes tax returns and pay information.
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