Child Support Modification
Child Support Modification is a court process to legally change the amount of child support that was originally ordered due to a “substantial and continuing change in circumstances.” For example, the person paying child support can file a motion with the court to terminate child support if the child is 18 years old, graduates from high school, becomes emancipated, or dies. If the child will be 18 during the school year, the child support will continue until the child graduates from high school or reaches age 19, whichever event is first.
In Arizona, two (2) options are available to seek a modification of child support. The first option is the Simplified Procedure that can be used by either parent if the amount of the current support order would increase or decrease by at least 15%. The other option is the Standard Procedure in which a parent would have to show a “substantial and continuing change of circumstances” to justify an increase or decrease in child support. The types of circumstances required to trigger a modification in the Standard Procedure depend on the facts in each case.
