West New York, New Jersey Support Attorney

People ordered to pay child or spousal support as part of a divorce settlement are required to prove a significant change in their material circumstances before a court will approve a modification to their divorce settlement. In practical terms, this means the loss of your job or an illness is not enough alone to suspend your child support or alimony payments. In petitioning the court to modify child support or alimony payments, it's necessary to thoroughly document your change in income, illness, and how it's affected you over time. At the Law Offices of Jeffrey Bloom, we work closely with clients in cases involving modifications of child support and spousal maintenance. We evaluate you financial situation and prepare all necessary documentation in order to position your case and establish a significant change in your material conditions.

If job loss or illness has affected your ability to pay child support of alimony, contact West New York, New Jersey divorce lawyer Jeffrey Bloom today to schedule an appointment and learn how we can help you.

How will the Court Evaluate My Situation in a Down Economy?

While everyone is struggling in the current economy, the fact that you lost your job or had to take a pay cut may not be enough to automatically suspend child support or spousal maintenance. If you apply for and receive unemployment benefits, the court may decide you still have enough income to continue making child support payments. In preparing a request for a modification in support payments, it's necessary to document and consider the following:

• Monthly disposable income
• Payments on credit cards, loans, mortgages, and leases
• Medical bills
• Utility bills
• Food, clothing, etc.

Here, the court will evaluate whether or not your material conditions have changed enough to warrant a temporary modification in support payments. If you have an expensive car payment, premium cable television subscription, or other costs the court may deem a luxury, you may be denied your request for a modification or told to cut back on non-essential expenses.

Contempt, Bankruptcy, and Support Obligations

If you fail to obtain a court-approved modification to your support payment obligations, your unemployment benefits or wages could be garnished, money taken out of your tax refunds, assets seized, or, in extreme cases, you could be sent to jail. Even if you declare bankruptcy, your child support and spousal maintenance obligations will not be affected. That is why it is important to understand your options and carefully prepare and file for a post-divorce modification.

Contact Post-Divorce Modifications Attorney Jeffrey Bloom Today

Complying with support payments in a down economy can be difficult. In order to understand your options and avoid unwanted legal complications, contact post-divorce modifications attorney Jeffrey Bloom today to schedule an appointment and discuss your case.