Either parent can request a child support modification in Rhode Island. If you can no longer afford to pay the court-ordered child support payments, it may be time to ask the court to decrease your amount.
Here are five circumstances that may call for this:
1. A decrease in income
If you lose your job or move to a low-paying one, making it challenging to pay child support, consider requesting relief to avoid getting into debt or missing payments.
2. Incarceration
If you are incarcerated, your child support does not stop. You need to ask the court to modify your child support payments for the duration of your sentence.
3. Change of custody
If you were the non-custodial parent obligated to pay child support, you can request lower child support payments when you become the custodial one. This is because you will be taking care of your child’s daily needs in your home.
4. Emancipation of the youngest child
If your youngest or only child leaves home due to early emancipation, you have a valid reason to modify your existing child support order, as they will now be treated as an adult or be financially independent.
5. New responsibilities
Another factor that may contribute to filing a child support modification is new responsibilities. If you have another child or become remarried and are now responsible for other children, you may ask the court to decrease your child support.
It’s vital to act quickly when you need to lower your child support payments. Seeking legal guidance can make this process easier.
