Child Support Can Change if Your Finances Change
Because child support in Texas is based on net income, it is possible to seek a modification in the amount of support paid if that income level changes. At the Law Office of Sharon Merrick, I represent clients in the Richardson-Plano area who seek both increases and reductions in child support.
If you need to reduce the amount of child support you pay due to job loss or a drop in income, it's important to obtain a court-ordered modification. Asking your spouse for a reduction is a start, but it is not enough to effectively modify the order. If you fail to meet your child support obligations, the Texas Attorney General can institute a collection action under the child support order.
The meter will continue to run until you obtain a court order to reduce child support. You will also be charged interest on past due amounts.
When Can I Seek a Child Support Modification?
In Texas, either the payor or the receiver of child support can seek a modification of child support if the payor's net income has changed.
Here are some examples of situations where the court may modify the amount of the child support payments:
| You lose your job | Child support payments can be reduced. |
| You get a lower paying job | Child support payments can be reduced. |
| You get a higher paying job | Child support payments can be increased. |
| There is a change in child custody | Child support payments can be changed. |
| Your child develops special medical needs | Child support payments can be increased. |
Free attorney consultation: To discuss child support modifications with me, lawyer Sharon Merrick, call 972-591-2323 or fill out the contact form on this Web site.
