When you got divorced, the courts probably issued a certain amount your partner would pay to help cover the costs of raising your children. But while prices are constantly growing, you’ll have to take special steps to make sure the support grows along with it.
The cost of raising a child has ballooned over time. Even just the last 30 years have seen a drastic change in things like childcare, which has grown twice as fast as median family wages. When you’re the only one in charge of paying the bills, you may need to change your support order so you can keep pace.
Costly care
Childcare costs grew 175% between 1990 and 2015, and there’s no sign of that trend slowing. Most married parents don’t have a regular arrangement set up, with many finding it more cost-effective to have one parent stay home than to pay these rising prices. Now that you’re a house of one parent, you’re likely watching the costs go up – even in the short term.
Increased invoices
Mississippi has allowances for changing child support, but you’ll have to remember a few things when you are considering the process:
- Reaching agreement: When you and the child’s other parent agree on a change, you may still have to make the process official. You might have to draft an explanation of how things have changed, and have a judge sign off on the document to set it in stone.
- Solid needs: If you can’t agree with your former partner, then you’ll have to leave it to the courts to decide. You’ll generally need to show that there’s been a significant change in circumstances, from a large loss of income for you to greatly expanding expenses for your children.
- New evidence: If you are preparing to bring your case before a judge, you’ll want to remember that a court probably won’t deliberate on any evidence you’ve presented before. You’ll need to provide new reasons why the change is necessary and support your case with proof.
Raising your children how they deserve isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t cheap. Understanding the process could enable you to make sure you have the help you need.