One of the things to keep in mind when you are deciding on the terms of your dissolution of marriage is that they can be modified over time. Sometimes an individual will have honest reservations about the terms that are being proposed, and if you feel this way it is nice to know that nothing is set in stone. Even something as sensitive as child custody is subject to modification if the court was to decide that it was in the best interests of the children. The parties involved are also free to agree to modifications on their own should they feel that changes are necessary.
The most common modification of the original dissolution of marriage terms involves the amount of child support that must be paid. If you were divorced when your children were young, child support payments may be in order for fifteen years or more. A lot can happen over that long a period of time, and it is very likely that the income levels of the parents will change, probably more than once. Without question the needs of the children will increase as well, and these changes of circumstance can warrant child support modifications.
In most cases people make more money over the years as they advance along a career path. For this reason it is logical to assume that any child support modifications will result in an increase in the amount that must be paid. It is true that most child support modifications result in an increase, but circumstances can necessitate a reduction in the child support obligation as well. These would include instances when the obligor suffered a layoff or a decrease in pay or in cases when the financial situation of the obligee improved a great deal while the obligor’s income stayed the same.
For legal advice about child support modification, contact a Tampa FL family attorney to arrange for a free consultation.