When an Arizona couple parts ways but shares a child, the best interests of the child take on a high level of importance when it comes to child support. However, there are times when there is a child support order and one of the parents wants it to be modified. There can be many reasons for this, but it is important to understand when and how this can be done.
Of course, the child’s financial needs take precedence, but the situation might be such that either the custodial parent or the supporting parent would like to alter the agreement. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services can help with getting a review to have the agreement modified if the requirements are met. The income of the parents, the child support guidelines and a continuing and substantial situation that is continuing and would change the order by 15 percent or more are all taken into consideration.
The modification can be requested for the following reasons: if the review for modification took place a minimum of three years before; if there was no medical support provision in the previous order and there is a reasonably priced insurance alternative available; to change the medical insurance; if a child has become emancipated; if one of the parents has had a significant change in income or lost a job; if there was a change in the financial needs to raise the child; if there was a change in custody or in parenting time; if the noncustodial parent was incarcerated or was released from incarceration; or if there is a disability.
It can take up to six months for the review and modification to take place. This is contingent on how rapidly the parents provide the necessary information to DCSS. Many circumstances can arise that make it necessary for a parent who is paying or receiving child support to request that the order be modified. When adjustments are needed by either parent, a legal professional who is experienced in a wide variety of family legal issues can help with seeking a modification.
Source: des.az.gov, “Modifying Your Existing Child Support Order FAQ,” accessed on July 10, 2017
