Life rarely stays the same—and even the most carefully crafted plans can be disrupted by unexpected changes. When divorce is first finalized, the initial child support arrangement may fit your family’s needs. But over time, circumstances shift, and so do the needs of your children.
As children grow, their financial, emotional, and educational requirements often increase. At the same time, changes in employment, income, or living arrangements may affect a parent’s ability to uphold the original terms of the support order. That’s why Arizona law allows parents to request child support modifications—to ensure your agreement reflects your current situation, not just what was true at the time of divorce.
At Shaffer Family Law, we understand that your child’s well-being is your number one priority—and it’s ours too. If you’re facing a major life transition or your child’s needs have evolved, it may be the right time to modify your existing child support order. A properly adjusted agreement helps maintain fairness for both parents while continuing to meet your child’s best interests. With our knowledgeable support, you can approach the modification process with clarity and confidence.
Top Reasons to Modify a Child Support Order in Arizona
To request a modification of a child support order in Arizona, a parent must demonstrate that a material change in circumstances has occurred since the original order was issued. Some of the most common reasons parents seek a child support modification include:
- Change in Income: A significant shift in either parent’s income—whether from job loss, illness, disability, or other unforeseen financial changes—may warrant a child support modification.
- Changes in Parenting Time: Child support is based partly on how much time each parent spends with the child. If your parenting time increases, you may owe less. If it decreases, your payments could go up. A custody change may justify modifying your support order.
- Changes in Child’s Needs: As children grow, so do their expenses. Rising education costs, increased healthcare, extracurricular activities, and daycare are just a few examples of evolving needs. Updating your support agreement is essential for ensuring their continued well-being.
- Parent Has Another Child: While remarriage alone doesn’t affect child support, having a new child may. If a parent now supports another child, the court may consider adjusting the existing support order to ensure all children’s needs are fairly met.
- Incarceration: If the paying parent is incarcerated, it may be grounds for modifying child support. The court will consider whether the incarceration significantly impacts the parent’s ability to pay and if the change is substantial and long-term.
Get Professional Legal Assistance for Your Child Support Modification at Shaffer Family Law
In Arizona, a child support order can only be modified if there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. This means the change must be significant enough to impact the existing order and must be ongoing, not just a temporary shift.
Under Arizona’s child support guidelines, a modification is generally justified if there’s a 15% or greater difference between the current support amount and the recalculated amount based on updated financial information. If this threshold is met, you may qualify for the simplified modification process, which is faster, less formal, and does not require a court hearing. However, if your case doesn’t qualify for the simplified route, you’ll need to go through the standard modification process. This involves submitting updated financial documents, formally serving the other parent, and attending a court hearing.
Navigating a child support modification can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Shaffer Family Law, we provide trusted guidance every step of the way—from evaluating your eligibility to filing the necessary forms and representing you in court if needed. Reach out to us today at (480) 470-3030 or schedule your consultation online today and let us assist you in achieving a fair and favorable outcome.
Sources:
https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/reasons-child-support-modifications-increasing-decreasing-ceasing-payments
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/change-child-support-order-29956.html