When you and your partner separate or divorce, questions about child support are inevitable. So are the stress and anxiety that often accompany them. You may be trying to plan for your child’s needs while also adjusting to changes in your household, income, and relationship with the other parent.
It’s natural to wonder whether the amount being paid today will remain appropriate as your child grows and circumstances change. Child support isn't meant to punish you or your former spouse. It’s intended to help cover your child’s financial needs and promote stability.
At Grabski & Shah, we can help you address child support concerns with careful attention to the circumstances affecting your family. We look at the factors that might influence an initial calculation or later adjustment so you have a clearer picture of what could happen in your situation.
Whether you're seeking a first child support order or asking about a modification, our child support lawyers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, can help you prepare for the process and establish a child support obligation that's accurate and fair to everyone involved. Reach out to us to discuss your circumstances and your legal options.
Income and Financial Circumstances
One of the primary factors considered in child support calculations is each parent’s financial situation. Child support is generally based on both parents’ incomes rather than simply the income of the parent who makes payments. Because financial circumstances can change, income might also become important when a parent later asks for an adjustment.
Income can include more than a regular paycheck. Depending on the circumstances, information about wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment earnings, benefits, and other sources of income could be relevant.
A parent who changes jobs, becomes unemployed, receives a substantial raise, or experiences a significant reduction in earnings might have grounds to ask whether the current support amount remains appropriate.
The source and reliability of income might also matter. For example, someone who is self-employed might have business-related income and expenses that need to be examined carefully.
Similarly, irregular bonuses or commission-based earnings could require a closer look than a simple hourly wage. Our child support lawyers can help you gather financial records and identify information that could affect your support calculation.
A change in income doesn't automatically mean that child support will change. The applicable legal requirements and circumstances must be considered before an adjustment is made. Keeping financial records and addressing substantial changes promptly can help you present a clearer picture of your current situation.
Parenting Time and Child-Related Expenses
The amount of parenting time each parent has can also affect child support. When children spend substantial time with both parents, each household might directly cover expenses such as food, clothing, transportation, school supplies, and activities. For that reason, parenting-time arrangements can be relevant when support is calculated.
Several circumstances can be considered when determining how financial responsibilities are allocated, including:
Parenting-time schedule: The number of overnights or the schedule the parents follow may affect a support calculation.
Health insurance costs: The cost of providing health coverage for a child may be considered when determining financial responsibilities.
Childcare expenses: Work-related childcare costs can become relevant when children need care so they can maintain employment.
Educational expenses: Certain education-related costs may affect the parents' financial obligations.
Medical expenses: Uninsured or unreimbursed medical costs can create additional responsibilities beyond the basic support amount.
These expenses can change over time, so an arrangement that was reasonable when an order was entered might not remain appropriate indefinitely. If your child's needs or your parenting schedule have changed substantially, our family law attorneys can help you determine whether those changes warrant a request for modification.
Changes That May Lead to a Modification
Child support orders aren't necessarily permanent. As children grow and your circumstances as a parent change, there might be situations in which an existing order needs to be reviewed. Colorado law establishes requirements for modifying child support, so a change in circumstances doesn't automatically result in a new child support calculation.
Common circumstances that can prompt an adjustment include:
A substantial income change: A significant and continuing increase or decrease in earnings could support a request to modify child support.
A change in parenting time: A substantial change to the parenting schedule can affect how financial obligations are calculated.
Changes in childcare: Starting or ending work-related childcare can alter the expenses associated with raising a child.
Changes in health insurance: A change in who provides coverage or what that coverage costs might affect support-related calculations.
Changes in the child’s needs: As children grow, their educational, medical, and other financial needs can change.
Changes involving other children: A parent’s financial obligations concerning other children might be relevant under applicable rules.
Timing can also matter. If you believe your circumstances have changed enough to warrant a review, it's generally best to address the issue rather than simply changing payments on your own. Continuing to pay a different amount without an appropriate modification can create additional legal and financial problems. Reach out to our team for help.
Child Support Lawyers Can Help When Child Support Circumstances Change
Child support calculations and adjustments over time can be influenced by income, parenting time, childcare, health insurance, medical needs, education, and other financial circumstances affecting your child and your household.
Because those circumstances can change, it's important to look at the current situation rather than assume that an existing support amount will always remain appropriate.
At Grabski & Shah, we can help you address these changes with practical legal guidance focused on your individual circumstances. Our child support attorneys can review an existing order, discuss potential changes, help gather relevant documentation, and explain the steps that may be available when you believe an adjustment is warranted.
We understand that you may be worried about financial matters because you only want to provide the best possible life for your child. Reach out to our team in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to discuss your situation and learn how we can help.
