Modifications & Enforcement in Fairfax
Committed to Your Family’s Best Interests
The repercussions of divorce are tough to navigate, especially when they involve children and protecting their best interests. At Keithley Law, PLLC, the legal team takes a client-oriented approach to ensure your rights and interests are protected. If you have a child support order in place and seek modification or enforcement, contact Keithley Law, PLLC, for legal guidance.
Modifying Child Support Orders
The amount of child support a parent is required to pay is generally based on a variety of factors, such as each parent’s income and the amount of time they have physical custody of the child. In Virginia specifically, child support calculations are based on an income shares model, which means that both parents' incomes will be evaluated to calculate support. The idea is that the child is entitled to the same amount of money as if the parents and their child still lived in one household.
A child support order can be modified for a variety of reasons, such as if a parent is having problems making payments due to unemployment or another change to income.
The specific statutes addressing child support modification are found in Titles 16 and 20 of the Virginia Code and the specific statutes that apply to your situation will depend upon whether you are filing for support in Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts or in Circuit Court.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
Keep in mind that a child support order is a legal obligation. If a parent doesn't pay child support, the parent can be held in contempt and fined, be ordered to pay attorney's fees, and/or be sent to jail. Their driver's license or any professional license may also be suspended.
Let Keithley Law, PLLC, Help. Call (703) 454-5147!
If you seek to modify or enforce an existing child support order, speak to an attorney for legal advice on your next steps. Both parents who’ve agreed to the child support order must adhere to the terms of the agreement or formally petition for a change if significant circumstances have changed.
Call (703) 454-5147 or fill out an online contact form to speak with an attorney at Keithley Law, PLLC, today about your situation.