Child support is court-ordered financial support that a non-custodial parent must pay to the custodial parent to help cover the expenses of raising a child. While the child support order is legally binding in Maryland, circumstances may change over time, requiring a modification to the order.
Change in income
If either parent’s income has changed, it may affect the amount of child support being paid. For example, if the paying parent loses their job, they may no longer be able to afford the same amount of child support.
Alternatively, if the receiving parent lands a higher-paying job, they may no longer need as much financial support for the child. In either case, a modification to the child support order may be necessary.
Change in custody arrangements
If the custody arrangement changes, such as the child living with the non-custodial parent instead of the custodial parent, the child support order may need modification to reflect the new arrangement. This is because the expenses associated with raising the child will have shifted, and the child support order should reflect that.
Change in medical needs
If the child has significant medical needs that require additional expenses, such as ongoing medical treatments or prescription medications, the child support order may need to be modified to reflect the added expenses. The court may also consider modifying the order if the child develops a new medical condition that requires additional expenses.
Change in education needs
If the child’s educational needs change, the child support order may also need to be modified. For example, if the child previously attended public school but now receives a private school education, the added expenses may call for a modification to the child support order.
Change in visitation schedule
If the non-custodial parent is spending more time with the child than originally agreed upon, the child support order may have to be changed. The change in the order should reflect the increased expenses associated with the added visitation time.