| You may have a child support order in effect now which you obtained from a court many years ago. With the cost of living, cost of children and cost of everything going up in Annapolis, the amount you received 3 or 5 years ago may not go as far as it once did. Luckily, you may be eligible for a change (modification) of child support. Did the payors income increase or did he or she receive a large bonus or other increase in their income? Did you lose your job or lose income due to cut backs or layoffs? If so, then a modification may be allowed by the court.
In order to obtain a change in child support, you may file a request with the court asking for a change called a Complaint for Modification of Child Support. The court will take into consideration your income, the other party’s income and other factors which will determine the child support amount. Maryland uses Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines are used by the court in determining the child support amount, but the guidelines may not be used in many situations, such as parents with combined incomes over $120,000 or children with special educational or medical needs. Additionally, children who attend private schools may also see a deviation from the guidelines.
In most circumstances, the advice of an Annapolis family lawyer will give you the information you need to determine if a modification is right for your children’s needs. Contact my firm today to find out more about the possibility of obtaining a modification of child support. |