In Connecticut, child support is a financial obligation that separated parents provide for their children until they turn 18 years of age or graduate from high school. These payments help ensure that their children can continue to grow in a stable environment where all their basic needs are met.
However, as time passes, the parents’ or their children may come across notable changes in their circumstances, which may require an increase or decrease in their child support costs.
To help provide parents like yourself with a better understanding of this topic, here are two key factors you need to know about the state’s child support modification procedures:
When can I update my child support order?
When you, your ex or your children experience a substantial change of circumstances, you may ask the court for an update of your existing child support order. Four common reasons that may warrant a modification include:
- A 15% change in either yours or your ex’s income
- A change in your children’s educational and medical needs
- A change in your custody order
- A relocation that may impact the moving parent’s financial situation
It is important to note that the courts review modification requests on a case-to-case basis and may take weeks or months of completion.
How can I file my request?
You can start this process by seeking the help of Support Enforcement Services (SES) or a family law attorney. You must gather and fill in all the required forms and submit them with the court clerk’s office.
After filing your request for modification, you need to “serve” your ex with a copy of your petition and attend your scheduled hearing.
Alternatively, if you and your ex amicably agree to the change of your child support costs, you may expedite your request by submitting a JD-FM-202 form along with other necessary documents.
In this process, the judge will review your request and if they find your agreement to be fair, they may award you with a new support order without the need of a court hearing.
Moving forward with good intentions
By understanding your rights and how the state processes child support order modifications, you can pursue your intended request with finesse and move forward with your life’s recent changes with a positive mindset.
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