We have assembled a number of places to start beyond the
support calculator.
The first question most people ask is when child support can be modified.
Contact information for local division of child support offices can be found
here.
Some of my cases potentially involve changing child support from one
state to another, or from one state to another and we need an understanding
of what the non-Washington procedures/amounts could be. Thus, you
can check here for
Child Support Laws of Other States if you need to as a starting point.
Essentially, in Washington state, there are two major grounds to modify support:
1) 2 (two) years have gone by since the last Order of Support was entered, and either
party wishes to have the income reviewed, or
2) 1 (1) year has gone by and the Order, as a practical matter, works a "substantial
economic hardship" on one of the parties. That can be due to losing a job
or one party just not having enough to make ends meat.
Some things to bear in mind: if your ex has remarried (or if you have) the new spouse's
income is not considered in the Child-Support Worksheets or formula for determining
support. But you need to list it on the financial declaration anyways.
The reason is that if your spouse has just a very, very significant level of income
they may consider it.
There are
many issues that come up in child-support
matters. For example: what if the support order is from out of state, what
if you can't pay back support, payment for post-secondary college expenses, credit
for time the kids spent with you but the Division of Child Support or the other
parent continues to enforce the Order of support as it was written, what if DSHS
committed an accounting error and the other spouse is playing in bad faith?
Over the last 10 years I have lost track of the number of issues that can come up.
Many of these issues I have litigated through trial and motions. For many
child-support issues it is best to purchase a "
Diagnosis"
for me to do a work up on your case to see what can be done.
(Please note these standards change from time to time and no attorney client relationship
is formed through viewing my website. So confirm the bases to change support themselves
have not changed!)
For a back support challenge motion read the entire form, and the cases I cite in it,
for more detailed information on
what is really required to fight back support.