When a parent wants to petition the court for a change in child support, having skilled legal representation improves the chances of success. Both the parent who pays support and the recipient are allowed to ask for a modification. Wilton child support lawyers may represent either side in court.
Petitions for Increases
Typically, the support recipient asks the judge for a payment increase. This could happen for a few different reasons.
A common factor involves having learned about the other parent’s income increase. It might be difficult to find out about an annual pay raise but easy to learn that the individual was promoted or hired elsewhere for a better-paying position. Wilton child support lawyers present the case that payments should increase by a certain percentage or dollar amount.
Petitions for Reductions
The parent providing support is allowed to ask the judge for a decrease in the payment amount. This could seem justified if he or she will be laid off for several months or has lost a job. However, family court judges may refuse these requests.
Because the layoff is temporary, the parent might be expected to use savings as well as unemployment compensation to make ends meet. As for losing a job, judges may believe the petitioner should be able to acquire a new position with a comparable salary relatively quickly.
The Process
The judge hears the petitioner first. If the other parent attends and speaks at the hearing or is represented by a lawyer, this side is the respondent. The petitioner can comment on what the respondent has said. Witnesses may testify as well.
For more details, visit the law firm of the Family Law Firm Healy Eliot + McCann.
