Child Support Modification

When parents hear the term modifying child support, the assumption is that one wants the amount for child support to be increased. However, whether it is a decrease or an increase it is still a modification of child support. 
 
Modifying child support can be done through a court hearing or through a child support review process. The child support review process is the fastest way to have child support modified, it also allows for both parents to agree on the order. 
 
Conditions for Child Support Modification
 
Modification will be granted on the following conditions:
-It has been 3 years since the order was awarded or since the last modification 
-The monthly amount of child support ordered differs by either 20% or $100 from the amount that would be awarded through the child support guidelines
-A material or substantial change in circumstances has taken place since the child support amount was last awarded
 
Material or substantial changes in circumstances include one of the following situations:
-Noncustodial parent’s income has either increased or decreased;
-Noncustodial parent is legally responsible for additional children;
-The child(ren)’s medical insurance coverage has changed;
-The child(ren)’s living arrangements have changed
 
Thus in the event the noncustodial parent  loses his job or has a decrease in income, this is a valid reason to modify child support as your income has dropped from the one initially used to calculate the current awarded amount for child support. The noncustodial parent who has a change in income can request for review  from the Attorney General Houston, Texas for child support.
 
Requirements for Modification Review
In order to be granted a modification on child support there is information required for the review. The office of the Attorney General will require the following:
-Noncustodial parent’s income and health coverage costs for the child(ren)
-Income information which includes pay-stubs, tax forms, letter of intent to employ from a prospective employer showing the prospective earnings
 
It is important to note that the amount of support can only be changed by court order and not by a verbal agreement between parents. While the parents may come to an agreed amount this does not change the child support court ordered amount. 
 
It is imperative for noncustodial parents to use the modification provision, if their failure to meet the amount set for child support is based on a change in their income. Because child support is court ordered, parents who do not pay child support are in violation of a court order and are liable for penalties. However, the onus is on the custodial parent to file enforcement action and so is the burden of proof, that there is a violation.
 
As part of a program to enforce payments for child support Attorney General Houston, Texas for child support  intends on tying defaulting on child support to vehicle registration. While this may seem extreme, children need child support to meet daily expenses including education, tuition, extracurricular activities and health insurance. On 2nd April 2016, Harris County served arrest warrants on parents who owed up to $20 000 in back child support payments. 
 
For advice on the cost of divorce in Texas , the author recommends Busby & Associates.