As financial circumstances change, you may find you need to adjust your child support accordingly. Whether you are looking for an increased support payment to cover the increasing costs of raising your child, or you want to lower the payment amount to match your new circumstances, there is a process for renegotiating your child support. When filing for a change, here are the 4 steps you should follow.
Step 1: Meet the Qualifications
Oklahoma does not allow for someone to randomly petition for a change in child support. In order to file in Oklahoma, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- You or the other parent has experienced a significant change in income since the last petition.
- Your order was not calculated using the state’s Child Support Guidelines.
- The child or the paying parent has experienced a change in medical health.
- The child support is no longer required, or the child has turned 18.
These qualifications help the court determine the cause for the child support modification petition. They are also used by the court to reach a decision regarding your petition, as well as to calculate any changes to be made to your current child support orders.
Step 2: Talk to a Child Support Attorney
In order to get the most out of your modification, seek legal representation to help with the negotiation process. Your attorney can help analyze the circumstances of the petition and build a solid case for modification. They can even help you file the petition with the appropriate court.
Step 3: File a Child Support Modification Petition
Once you have discussed your situation with a family law attorney, you must submit a petition with the court. The court will set a date for your modification hearing and notify the other parent.
Step 4: During Negotiation, Remember the Small Things
Before your hearing, your attorney may recommend a meeting with the other biological parent. It is possible to discuss adjustments and changes to child support. If you are able to agree upon a new child support amount, and it meets the Child Support Guidelines, you can present the agreement in writing to the judge during your hearing for approval.
If you do not renegotiate before your hearing, you and your attorney will present your evidence and reasoning before a judge. The judge will listen to both parents and determine any changes to your child support agreement.
Whether you choose to renegotiate prior to or during the hearing, it is important to remember all the details to use in your favor. Factors such as health insurance payments, extracurricular payments, or even whether or not you claimed your child the previous tax year are powerful tools in negotiating child support payments. Bring receipts, tax documents, and other materials to reference during your argument. Your lawyer can help advocate to lower your payment or increase received payments based on this information.
Our Child Support Lawyers in Norman Can Help You
If you are looking to renegotiate your child support in Oklahoma, you’ll need an experienced attorney by your side. At the Law Offices of Keith J. Nedwick, P.C., we understand the importance of child support payments. Whether you require an increase in payments or are looking to decrease your monthly support, our Norman child support attorneys can help you. We take the time to analyze the details of your situation, organize all of the evidence to support your case, and help you with the entire renegotiation process. Our lawyers have over 50 years of collective experience and have a reputation for helping families achieve a beneficial outcome.
Talk to our Norman family law attorneys today to discuss your child support case: (866) 590-8173.