WASHINGTON
SUPPORT MODIFICATION
The Order of Child
Support can be adjusted through a
modification procedure if there has been
a substantial change in the circumstances
of the parents or the child. Some
examples include when one or both
parents' income has substantially
increased or decreased; if the child now
spends a greater amount of time with one
or the other parent; or if the child has
special needs, including special
schooling or medical care.
Filing for
modification requires filling out the
mandatory forms, serving copies on the
other parent, filing them with the Court
and scheduling a hearing. If the
other parent is receiving welfare
benefits, the County Prosecuting Attorney
must be served as well.
If your Order is
registered with the State Division of
Child Support and at least three years
have passed since it was entered, the
State will assist you in getting it
modified administratively at no charge to
you. However, this process takes
much longer than doing it on your own.
You must provide
proof of your income. This proof
includes your last two income tax
returns, six months pay stubs, and bank
records.
If both parties
agree and the Order meets the State
mandatory schedules, they can get the
Order approved by a judge without the
need of a hearing. If they do not
agree, the case can go to trial and a
judge will decide. The procedures
for setting a trial vary from county to
county. In King County, a trial by
affidavit is scheduled about 4 months
after the date of filing.
Our firm consist of three
lawyers, Peter W. Mogren, Ronald E.
Glessner, and Ruth A. Roti. Our
emphasis is in family law, wills and
probate, and personal injury.
Please click on the topics above for
details about these areas of practice,
including divorce, legal separation,
property division, child support, spousal
maintenance, parenting plans,
modifications, paternity, adoption,
wills, Community Property Agreements,
Durable Power of Attorney, and probate.
Our firm is conveniently located
in Renton, King County, Washington, just
off the freeway at the intersection of
I-405 and I-167. Our attorneys
represent clients throughout the State of
Washington, including the communities of
Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Seattle, Bellevue,
Auburn, Maple Valley, Federal Way, Des
Moines, Burien, SeaTac, Enumclaw and most
of south King County.
The
information contained in these pages
is not
intended to be legal advice, and does
not create an attorney-client
relationship. You should always
consult with an attorney before
taking any action. Feel free to call
us at 425-255-4542.
