In Alberta – you may be eligible to apply for a variation in court-ordered child support payments under two scenarios. In the first scenario, if you are looking to apply for an increase in child support payments and are the recipient of the financial support you may apply for a variation. In the second scenario, if you are looking to decrease your child support payments and are the payor of support you may apply for a variation as well. However, not all requests are approved. We recommend you speak with a family lawyer who is experienced in dealing with child support variation orders if you are looking to process a variation in child support payments.

Circumstances Where Child Support Variation Payments May Be Approved

There are certain circumstances that the courts may consider when processing requests that deal with variations to child support payments. These circumstances include a change in any of the following:

• Where the number of children/dependents change
• Employment changes where the employment income has drastically altered
• Special or extraordinary Section 7 expenses incurred for the children
• Travel and child access costs for visits between the parties and their children

The courts may also review the payor’s ability to make current payments based on full financial disclosures and other factors if circumstances have drastically changed for the payor. We recommend you consult with a family lawyer on this topic to see if you may be eligible to request a variation in child support payments as each situation is unique from one another.

Changing a Court Order for Child Support

There are many documents involved in changing a court order for child support as indicated on the Government of Alberta’s website. For example, if both parents live in Alberta, you will be required to fill out a claim as per the Family Law Act including affidavits and other statements. There will also be a significant number of official documents that need to accompany your claim including but not limited to things like financial stubs, tax stubs, expenses and receipts, Notice of Assessments and more. Having a lawyer assist you with this also ensures that you do not miss any of the important documents that help strengthen your claim.

You can find resources and forms on the Government of Alberta’s website here.

Contact Verhaeghe Law Office today for Legal Assistance in Requesting a Variation in Child Support Payments

Call 587-410-2500 today to book a consultation with an Alberta family/divorce lawyer if you need legal assistance in requesting a variation in your child support payments. Depending on the circumstances of your claim– we may be able to assist you with processing this request. Our family lawyers/divorce lawyers have proudly served thousands of Albertans with their family law needs and are pleased to assist you with all your legal needs.

Contact our law firm today for legal assistance with requesting a variation in your court-ordered child support payments.

Disclaimer: Please note the advice contained in this article does not constitute legal advice and is only intended to act as a general overview on the topic at hand. Each legal situation is unique and we recommend you speak with a divorce/family lawyer from Alberta if you require legal counsel on the requesting variations in your child support payments.