Do Child Support Payments Change Over Time?
When parents separate or divorce, child support is meant to ensure a child’s needs are met as they grow. But life rarely stays the same. Jobs change, children’s needs evolve, and financial circumstances shift. If you’re in or around Cherry Hill, you may be wondering: do child support payments change over time? The short answer is yes—under the right circumstances, child support can be modified.
How Child Support Is Initially Set in Cherry Hill
In Cherry Hill and throughout New Jersey, child support is typically calculated using the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines consider each parent’s income, the number of overnights with each parent, childcare costs, health insurance, and certain other expenses.
The initial order is based on the facts at that time. But the law recognizes that what’s fair and appropriate today might not be fair five years from now. That’s why New Jersey allows parents to ask the court to review and modify support when circumstances significantly change.
When Can Child Support Be Modified?
You cannot change child support just because you feel it’s unfair—you must generally show a substantial change in circumstances. In Cherry Hill, examples of changes that may justify a modification include:
- A significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income
- Job loss, disability, or long-term illness impacting earning ability
- Increased needs of the child (for example, medical, educational, or special needs)
- Changes in parenting time or custody arrangements
- One parent remarrying or having additional children may also be relevant in some cases
The court will examine whether the change is substantial, ongoing, and not just a temporary fluctuation. If the judge agrees there has been a significant change, they may recalculate child support using updated information.
The Process of Seeking a Change
In Cherry Hill, a parent seeking to change child support typically must file an application or motion with the court. You will need to provide:
- Updated financial information (pay stubs, tax returns, business records)
- Documentation supporting changes in expenses or the child’s needs
- Information about any custody or parenting time changes
The other parent can respond, and the court may schedule a hearing. The judge will then decide whether to modify the support order and, if so, in what amount. It is important to understand that changes are not usually retroactive beyond the filing date—so waiting to act can cost you.
Talk to a Cherry Hill Child Support Attorney About Your Options
If your financial situation or your child’s needs have changed, you don’t have to guess whether your child support order should, too. At Fiore Law Group, our Cherry Hill family law attorneys can review your circumstances, explain your rights, and guide you through the process of seeking an increase or decrease in support. Contact Fiore Law Group today to schedule a consultation and get clear, experienced advice about modifying child support.