Child Support Lawyer Bloomington IL
Child Support Modifications: The Basics
Families, like children, inevitably evolve over time. This may result in changes in the family makeup, involve health challenges, financial difficulties, decide to move their residences, and otherwise navigate changes to their general everyday lives. A child support lawyer serving Bloomington, IL, will share that the family legal system tries to reasonably accommodate the idea that the needs, priorities, resources, and best interests of both children and families rarely stay the same for long. As a result, both child custody orders and child support orders may require modification under certain circumstances. The Bloomington, Illinois child support lawyer team at Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols can help.
Not every family qualifies for child custody and child support modifications. In general, judges will honor changes that are mutually consented to by both of a child’s parents, provided that those alterations do not significantly impact the child’s best interests in a negative way. If you and your co-parent are willing to compromise with each other in a modification to existing orders, an experienced Bloomington, IL child support lawyer will be able to help you make those changes via mediation and attorney-led negotiation. However, when only one parent is interested in seeking a modification, a formal request must be made to the court. A judge will ultimately determine whether to grant that modification request. Such requests are generally only honored under certain circumstances.
Most judges only grant modification requests (when requested by one, not mutually consenting parents) if a child affected by the order or at least one parent has experienced a dramatic change in circumstances since the original orders were issued. A Bloomington, IL child support lawyer shares that voluntary loss of income is not usually a legitimate reason to request a modification. Instead, involuntary job loss that is long-term due to illness, injury, disability, etc. may serve as valid grounds for a modification. Other changes in circumstance may or may not result in grounds for modification. A Bloomington, IL child support lawyer will be able to clarify your options if you believe a modification may be right for your family’s evolving circumstances.
Modification Assistance Is Available
If you are interested in exploring the option of modifying existing child support orders or you have questions about child support generally, please consider scheduling a consultation with our Bloomington, IL child support lawyer at your earliest convenience. Modifications have the potential to benefit many different families, but not every family is eligible for a modification. Thankfully, consulting with an experienced Bloomington, IL child support lawyer will help you to clarify your situation. If you are eligible to negotiate or formally request a modification, an attorney can help you to do so. If you are not eligible for a modification based upon a formal request, a Bloomington, IL child support lawyer will be able to help you explore alternatives. Please do not hesitate to contact an experienced Bloomington, IL child support lawyer today. The longer you wait to explore the option of modification, the more limited your legal options may become. Acting now may help to preserve specific legal resources and the ability to “bounce back” from whatever challenges you are currently facing without struggling with additional (and otherwise preventable) obstacles. Also, it is crucial to keep in mind that child support consultations are confidential, so you have no reason to hesitate or feel shy about speaking up, asking any questions, orvoicing any concerns you may have.
What Are the Potential Consequences of Failing to Pay Child Support?
The family legal system recognizes that the structure of the American family has rapidly evolved over the past several decades. Our child support lawyer in Bloomington, IL, shares that as a result, it tends to remain flexible with regards to specific arrangements. For example, when a child’s needs or a family’s situation changes significantly, the courts allow parents to file for formal modifications of their child custody arrangements. Similarly, when a child’s needs or a parent’s financial situation changes dramatically, the courts may grant a formal modification of child support orders. Bloomington, IL child support lawyers want you to know that, parents need to understand that these kinds of modifications must be filed formally and approved by the courts before any changes to existing orders may take place. Simply because a parent’s circumstances have changed does not mean that that parent can stop paying any child support orders he or she is obligated to provide. Failure to pay court-ordered child support can result in severe consequences. It is critical for parents who owe child support to speak with their Bloomington, IL child support lawyer if they either cannot meet their obligations or do not believe that they should be paying the amount ordered. This proactive step can mean the difference between significant consequences and a fair and legally recognized modification.
If You Cannot Meet Your Child Support Obligations
Our Bloomington, IL child support lawyer knows that, sometimes, circumstances make it either unduly burdensome or impossible for a parent to continue paying child support in a previously ordered amount. When a parent loses a job, becomes disabled, becomes chronically ill, is forced to move or is otherwise newly financially burdened uncontrollably, the courts may be able to reduce the amount of child support that parent is obligated to pay.
Do Not Stop Paying Child Support Without Judicial Permission
If you stop paying your court-ordered child support, you could be fined, held in contempt of court, face wage garnishment, have your tax return withheld, have property seized, or risk incarceration. Speak with a Bloomington, IL child support lawyer if your child support is already overdue to minimize potential consequences when possible.
Legal Assistance Is Available
If you have questions about child support generally or child support accountability issues specifically, please do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced child support lawyer in Bloomington, IL. Legal consultations are usually confidential and do not obligate you to take any follow-up actions. These conversations allow individuals with legal questions to become more informed about any legal options that may be available to them based on their unique circumstances. If you require legal counsel, please consider contacting a child support lawyer Bloomington, IL residents can trust. Call Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols today.
If You Believe You Are Paying More than You Should
If your family’s circumstances have changed dramatically, you may wish to speak with a Bloomington, IL child support lawyer about formally modifying your child support payments. It may make sense to modify your child support payments if your child is living with you more frequently, the other parent recently became wealthier, or there is another significant factor at play. Depending on your situation, a modification may or may not be approved.
Hiring a Child Support Lawyer in Bloomington, IL to Modify a Child Support Agreement
When a child support agreement finalizes, the intention is for it to last until the child reaches legal age or otherwise loses eligibility to receive support from the non-custodial parent. However, our child support lawyer in Bloomington, IL, shares that significant life events may occur, which may result in the need to modify the original child support agreement. Generally speaking, if the original agreement was approved by and finalized by a court, it is possible to alter the terms later, but the court must accept the changes. If the Judge objects to the proposed changes, the child support agreement will remain the same. Therefore, it is essential to submit your proposed changes in the best possible light to the Judge to maximize the likelihood that they will be approved. Making this attempt without the representation of a seasoned Bloomington, IL child support lawyer at Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols may not be in your best interest. Talk to our Bloomington, IL child support lawyer from Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols to learn if we may be able to assist you in getting the changes you would like.
What is the process for modifying a child support agreement?
The procedure varies slightly from state to state. Still, in almost every case, you will need to request the modifications from the same family court that approved the original child support agreement. Though the court clerk may be kind enough to tell you which forms you need to fill out and where to submit them, they are not obligated to do so. They will also not review those forms for accuracy or substantiation, nor will they offer you legal advice. These are not concerns when you hire an experienced Bloomington, IL child support lawyer such as one from Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols. Our lawyers handle these tasks on our clients’ behalf.
Additionally, our practice has a clear understanding of the modifications that may be approved and for what reasons and what basis. Legal precedents may come into play as well, and our lawyers are well-versed in these as well. If a court order is required to garnish wages, our child support lawyer in Bloomington, Illinois, is experienced in this process and has a firm understanding of the steps necessary to accomplish this.
Is a child support agreement modification permanent or temporary?
This will depend upon the nature of the requested modification. For example, if the parent who is required to pay the support suffers from a catastrophic injury and is unable to continue working full time, their request to reduce the payments may be permanently approved. If they sustained an injury from which they will fully recover, their application to reduce the payments might only be approved for the length of time they are out of work. Talk to our Bloomington IL child support lawyer about the circumstances of your case for insight about how the court may respond to your request to modify the original agreement.
Call Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols, Bloomington, IL child support lawyer you can depend on for a free consultation to discuss your case.
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