A Leading East Bay Family Law Attorney
After child support and spousal support determinations have been approved by the court, ex-spouses' lives continue to change and evolve. If you or your ex have experienced significant changes in income or other circumstances, you may be eligible for modification of the terms of your child support or spousal support arrangements.
You can petition the court for support modification, or you can oppose your ex-spouse's attempt to modify support levels. At Susan L. Jeffries & Associates, we have the experience and knowledge to protect your interests and help you make sound decisions regarding how to move forward. For an initial consultation with one of our lawyers, call 866-921-9692 or send us an e-mail with a brief explanation of your circumstances.
Susan L. Jeffries was named "Best Lawyer" in the East Bay from 1993 to 2003 by the Alameda Times Star. To find out why, see "What Makes us the Best?"
When Can a Support Order Be Modified?
Judges tend not to grant requests for support modifications unless they are clearly necessary. Under the law, support modifications can only be requested in response to a "significant change" in circumstances since the original order was put in place.
Usually, a significant change is related to the income of one of the parties. For example, if the individual paying child support gets a substantial raise or loses his job, he can request a reduction or the other party can request a modification to increase payments to reflect that change.
The Financial Background You Need
Support modifications often involve complex financial issues, and few family law attorneys have significant experience with financial matters. From 1980 to 1990, Susan L. Jeffries worked as a tax attorney with Chevron. In addition, she has a master of laws degree in taxation. She can review the details of the change in circumstances that is the basis of the modification petition and give you a solid idea of how your case is likely to turn out.
You will be well-informed, and any decisions you need to make will be thoroughly considered.
To discuss modification of spousal or child support during an initial consultation with a lawyer at Susan L. Jeffries & Associates, call us today at 866-921-9692 or contact us online. Our offices are located in Alameda, California, and we serve clients throughout Oakland and the East Bay.
