Modification of Child Support, Custody and Alimony in Fayetteville North Carolina

Fayetteville NC Support Modification Lawyers – Family Law Attorneys

When you go through a divorce and you either agree to terms or have them decided in court, you may feel as though the matter has been resolved permanently. However, in the state of North Carolina some of the most important components of the agreement are not set in stone. Child support, child custody, and alimony payments can be modified after the fact if changing circumstances warrant a modification.

In the case of child custody, modification can be sought when the non-custodial parent feels as though the parent who has primary custody is not providing for the child sufficiently. This type of action would usually be met with resistance, but there are other custody modification actions that are agreeable to both parents. These would include cases when the child or children in question may be posing a discipline problem that the custodial parent can’t control, and in cases when the custodial parent has some compelling need to relocate either temporarily or permanently, such as a deployment in the military or a long-term job assignment.

Child support payment amounts are determined via North Carolina uniform guidelines that take the earnings of both of the respective parents into account. Modification of child support may be appropriate when the income of one or both of the parties involved changes significantly. In North Carolina the change would have to result in a difference in the current child support payment of at least 15% when the guidelines are applied to the updated financial profile of the couple to be deemed significant enough to warrant a modification. Child support payment amounts can also be modified in North Carolina when the needs of the child or children increase.

In the same manner, alimony payments can be modified when the financial circumstances of the former couple change over time. If the dependent spouse was to inherit a large sum of money, enjoy increased income or re-enter the workforce at some point the alimony payment might be reduced or eliminated entirely. On the other hand, should the supporting spouse obtain increased financial means, an alimony modification that raises the amount of alimony that is paid may be appropriate.

Anyone who is seeking modification of child support, custody or alimony should retain the services of an experienced Fayetteville NC divorce attorney.