Tampa Child Support Modification Attorney

When a parent is awarded primary custody, or parenting time, the other parent is often ordered to pay child support. Child support payments are meant to provide the child with the same standard of living they would have if their parents were still together. Child support orders can come as a result of divorce proceedings, or they can be awarded to single parents who were never married to their child’s other parent.

However, a person’s situation can change over time and the original support order may at some point no longer be practical. In these cases, either party can petition the court to modify the original order. Obtaining a child support modification is never easy, though. Below, our Tampa child support modification attorney explains in more detail.

How to Modify a Child Support Order in Florida

Unlike in other matters, such as parenting plans, child support cannot be modified outside of the courts. In other words, even if the two parents agree to a modification, they must still go to court to obtain a formal modification order. To modify child support payments, one side must show that there has been a significant change in circumstances. There are many changes in circumstances that may warrant a child support modification. The most common of these include:

• Job loss,
• Inheritance or increased income,
• Parent incarceration,
• Other children who require support,
• Marriage,
• Parent disability,
• New educational expenses for the child, and
• Additional expenses for extracurricular activities, such as sports.

Even when there has been a significant change and it is quite obvious, such as the incarceration of a paying parent, court approval is still necessary to modify a support order. Failing to comply with a court order has serious consequences, including jail time and high fines.

Enforcing a Child Support Order

If your child’s other parent has failed to pay child support, you can take legal action against them. You can file a petition with the court to enforce the order. If the court finds that the other party has not made child support payments, a judge can take many actions against them. These include garnishing their wages, suspending their driver’s license, placing a lien on their property, and even holding them in contempt of court. If they are convicted of contempt, they may even face jail time.

Modifying and enforcing child support orders are complex matters, though. It is always recommended that you work with an attorney who can help you navigate the process.

Our Child Support Modification Attorney in Tampa Can Provide the Legal Advice You Need

It is said that the only constant in life is change, and that holds true for child support payments, as well. If you need to obtain a modification of support payments, call our Tampa child support modification attorney at Florida Law Advisers, P.A. first. Our experienced attorney can provide the sound legal advice you need and guide you through the process so you obtain the best possible outcome. Call us now at 1 (800) 990-7763 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation and to learn more.