What is a child support modification?

Child support modification is a change to an existing court order of child support. In Washington, modifications may be requested if an unexpected change in circumstances occurred for either the parent paying child support or the parent receiving child support. These changes must be significant enough that the existing child support order is no longer fair and reasonable. In Washington, the Department of Social and Health Services determines the fairness of a modification application. An example of a significant change in circumstances could be an unexpected medical expense, an increase or decrease in income, a change in custody arrangements, or a change in expenses related to the child. The requested modification can include a change in the amount of child support payments, the payment frequency, or both. If the parent paying child support cannot pay the amount ordered by the child support agreement, they can seek a modification. Once the modification petition is filed, the court will review the evidence of the change in circumstances and either grant or deny the modification request. The court may also request additional evidence and require the parties to attend a hearing before making a decision. If the modification is granted, the child support order will usually be changed to reflect the new circumstances. Finally, it’s important for parents to understand that a modification does not necessarily change the amount of past due payments. In Washington, the amount previously ordered is still owed and must be paid, even after a modification is granted.

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