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How Your Employment Status Affects Child Support

man packing up his belongings at work

Losing your job is terrifying, especially if you are paying child support. Since being unemployed significantly impacts your ability to meet your child support obligations, parents often wonder what their options for making payments are moving forward.

California’s Guidelines on Modifying Child Support

According to California’s child support agency, child support payments do not automatically change if one parent loses their job or if they start making more income. The only way the amount of child support can be modified is through new orders or a stipulation approved by the court.

However, parents have the right to ask for a review of their case when changes in circumstances exist. These circumstances must be significant enough to have a severe impact on child support needs.

Courts may consider making changes to support orders for the following circumstances:

  • There is a substantial increase or decrease in either parent’s income

  • Changes in custody plans

  • Changes in the amount of time the children spend with each parent

This means losing your job could be a reason for a change in support. However, unemployment doesn’t stop mean you are no longer obligated to stop paying child support. If you voluntarily quit your job, it may not be sufficient grounds to warrant a change in your support payments.

If you stop paying your child support, they will continue to back up until you start making your payments again. To obtain a modification, your change in circumstances must be significant enough that it is nearly impossible for you to support your child.

Act Fast

A change in your child support order can only start from the date you filed your modification request papers. This means that until the modification is approved, you will need to continue to make payments to your child support. Otherwise, each month you fail to make a payment will accrue at the old amount, and you’ll eventually have to pay it back.

In order to protect yourself, it is in your best interest to request a child support modification as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Michael D. Iverson, we will help you determine whether a modification is a viable option or with starting the legal process of changing your child support order. Our skillful child support modification attorney is here to assist you with pursuing a solution that fits your situation.

If you have recently gone through a significant change in circumstances that impact your ability to financially support your children, call the Law Offices of Michael D. Iverson today at (951) 418-2770.

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