Adjusting child support payments in Virginia Beach, VA, requires careful legal guidance. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our skilled team of family law attorneys offers the professional support you need during these challenging times.
Rely on a Virginia Beach child support lawyer to review your situation and provide personalized advice about your next legal steps. With a deep understanding of Virginia family law, we’re committed to advocating for your rights and the well-being of your children.
Our firm ensures your child support agreement is updated to reflect your circumstances while prioritizing your family, your finances, and your future. Call or complete our online contact form to find out more.
When Can You Modify Child Support Payments in Virginia Beach?
Virginia only allows you to modify a child support order in specific situations. Generally, you have to show that there’s been a material change in your circumstances, your child’s circumstances, or the circumstances of the child’s other parent since the last child support order.
Either parent can legally request child support modifications. The parent who files the request for a change is responsible for showing why it is necessary.
Keep in mind that the court will only grant these requests if the change to support will not negatively impact your child. A Virginia Beach family lawyer will review your situation to see if you qualify for changes.
What Circumstances Allow for Child Support Modifications?
You could seek changes to your child support agreement in a variety of situations, including:
- In instances where the parent receiving support remarries.
- The parent paying child support experiences a significant) decrease in their income and no longer makes enough to cover child support payments.
- The parent paying child support can’t find work after losing their job; therefore, their income is significantly reduced.
- Either parent gets a higher-paying job or receives a significant raise in income.
- Either parent receives a substantial inheritance.
- The cost of school tuition, daycare, medical care, insurance, or other needs increases or decreases.
- When your child reaches 18 years old, becomes emancipated, or graduates high school.
- The paying parent becomes responsible for supporting additional children from other relationships.
- Your child develops special needs for education, care, or health with an increase in expenses.
Finally, Virginia allows you to request a modification to child support payments if the original order fails to make provision for health and dental insurance costs. Substantial increases in insurance premiums may also allow for adjustments.
Lawyers from our team will review your situation to see if you qualify for a modification. We will also help you understand the potential reasons your child’s other parent requested a change and if the courts will grant the request.
Virginia Beach Child Support Modifications
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Can You Work Modifications Out Through a Verbal Agreement?
Sometimes, parents try to resolve child support adjustments outside of the court system.
For instance, when a parent becomes unemployed, both parties might agree verbally to reduce support payments. This cooperation demonstrates a willingness to collaborate; however, without court approval, such verbal agreements are not legally binding, leaving the original court order in effect.
Therefore, if you begin making reduced payments based on a verbal agreement, the other parent has the legal right to pursue you in court for the difference, demanding back payment of child support as stipulated by the original order.
When facing child support modifications, we recommend working with a Virginia Beach, VA, lawyer to legally modify your child support agreement, providing you with protection.
How Do Lawyers Handle Child Support Modifications?
Our legal team will help you petition the court for child support adjustments. We have a decade of experience and know how to minimize the stress you experience by providing comprehensive assistance.
Meet with us to discuss the specifics of your situation. We’ll provide advice about all potential legal options and discuss the aspects of Virginia’s legal code that apply to your case.
We will stay with you until your child support modification request is resolved. Learn more with a free consultation from one of our Client Services Coordinators. We understand how to navigate the Virginia Department of Social Services to address your concerns.
Why Choose Our Firm for Help with Child Support Modifications?
Our Virginia Beach child support modifications lawyer, at Melone Hatley, P.C. will use our extensive legal experience to provide personalized assistance to every client who seeks our help. We believe in protecting you, your future, and your family. We’ll go over the facts surrounding your finances and consider options that will help you best provide for your children.
We will keep you in the loop as we handle any concerns you may have about child support modification. Our Virginia Beach child support modifications lawyer also knows how to address other family law concerns, including issues around divorce or spousal support requests.
Do Child Support Modifications Kick in Right Away?
It takes time to request modifications to your Virginia child support order. You may have to wait weeks or months before your hearing to discuss the changes. However, if the judge agrees to the adjustments, they will promptly go into effect, and can even be retroactive to the date of filing.
Our team will provide you with information about the status of your case every step of the way. We will use the time before your hearing to collect evidence supporting your side of the issue and deal with legal communication on your behalf.
Review our Guide: Child Support in Virginia if you have more questions about your legal options and the best way to move forward. You can also reach out to us for personalized answers to your legal questions.
Talk to a Child Support Modifications Lawyer in Virginia Beach, VA
Turn to a Virginia Beach child support modifications lawyer for help handling changes in your financial situation. Our team at Melone Hatley, P.C. will stand up for you, helping you handle these adjustments so you don’t have to go through the legal process alone.
We’ll listen to all of your concerns and dig into the facts around financial decisions, providing you with personalized advice. Take charge of your future today by calling or completing our online contact form.
