Child Support Modification Help

[mtk836]

Last year I received JOINT physical and legal custody of my 3 children. I made about 100k per year and even though we share them equally, I owe child support. Several issues caused me to lose my job one month after the case was settled. I remained unemployed for about 11 months and am finally back on my feet. Now I only make 45k per year $2200/mo take home, yet they will continue to take $650 per check / $1300 month. Her pay is up 10k p/y now. I find it hard to feed 3 children and pay my bills. She is living with fiancé at his house. (Missouri)

Does anyone know how to get child support modified? Can I do it myself? (She has a great attorney). How much will it cost? Can the division of Child Support office help me even if they represent her and her case?

Any help would be appreciated. By the way, she also received food stamps and additional aid from the state and used her parents address to falsify household income.

Thanks from Missouri

[joni]

Yes, you should be able to file through the Child support office to have your support reduced based on your reduced salary.  I would go to their admin office and request the forms.  Generally you have to provide current paystubs and 3 years of tax returns.  The other parent will receive a request from that office to provide the same and then support will be determined based your state's guidelines.

[wendl]

quicker way is to file yourself they the courts, sometimes it take the CS office upto 3 months to do the mods and usually your order has to be so old (in WA it must be 36 months since your last order)

I am sure the comissioner/judge will ask you why you no longer work at that higher paying job.

Usually it al has to do with #'s.

Check out your local court website, many have the forms and instructions on how to complete/serve on the site.

Good luck