Recession Leads To Rise in Uncollected Child Support
Posted on Oct 16, 2012 12:00am PDT
How are we going to financially support the children as two households?
What is my monthly child support obligation? Is child support tax deductible?
Couples in Georgia and across the nation should be informed of the answers
to these questions when determining child support in the divorce process.
When parents are unable to meet their obligations, they may consider modifying
their child support order.
Officials in some states have observed a decrease in child support payments
in recent years. This observation stems from federal figures estimating
that the amount of uncollected child support obligations now exceeds $450
million. A lot of experts peg the reason for the rise in uncollected child
support payments to the nation's recent recession.
When parents are unable to meet their child support payments due to changed
circumstances, they have the opportunity to seek modifying their child
support agreement. In Georgia, parents may apply for a modification for
numerous reasons, including job loss, unexpected medical expenses, income
changes for either parent or increases in the child's expenses.
To change the child support obligations, both parents must come to an agreement
or obtain an order from a judge increasing or decreasing the obligation.
In seeking a modification, it is in the best interests of the child for
the paying parent to move quickly. Parents seeking a modification should
keep any documents proving that circumstances have changed since a court
has entered the child support agreement.
One other important thing to remember is that regardless of what may be
claimed, the most important factor in any child support decision is going
to be whatever is deemed to be in the child's best interest. Making
the best case possible for one's position for change is something
that is best done with the help of an experienced attorney.