A child support order may be changed for future payments, but not for past due payments, if there has been a change of circumstances. If a parent's income increases or decreases so that the amount owed would be 10 percent less, there is a change of circumstances. A change of circumstances occurs when a child reaches age 7 and 16. The parent should contact an attorney right away to see if the support order should be lowered, because orders can only be modified for the future. The parent should either contact an attorney or the local Court Trustee, the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services or Child Support Enforcement Unit as soon as possible to see about the possibility of obtaining an increase in the support obligation.
Some counties have a court trustee who is appointed by the judges to collect child support.
A parent who pays support to the court trustee must also keep the trustee informed of current addresses and place of employment. The court trustee of CSEU may accept a partial payment. If there are other problems, the parent may want to see an attorney right away. For example, if the reason for inability to pay is loss of a job, the parent may want to file a motion to modify the support obligation as soon as possible. If income is not being withheld, it can be ordered when a parent defaults.