Use our child support modification form to update a child support agreement.
Updated April 30, 2024
Written by Sara Hostelley | Reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.
A child support modification form is a document requesting changes to a court-ordered child support agreement.
Separated or divorced parents often use this document when they have a significant change in circumstances. For example, a co-parent can ask a court to modify their payment amount due to a loss of employment or a substantial decrease in income.
If both parents agree, they can complete and sign a revised child support agreement and adhere to its terms while waiting for their child support hearing.
Child support modification refers to the adjustments in child support, which are payments one parent makes to the other to cover the financial needs of their children. A court can obligate one party to pay child support, but the amounts one party can pay may change over time.
Child support modification can involve increasing or decreasing payments, depending on the parents’ unique situations.
The following factors can result in the need for one party to petition for child support modification:
Explore the state-specific laws for child support modifications:
| State | When Is Child Support Modification Appropriate | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | At least a 10% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order is required and/or the party seeking a modification of child support must plead and prove that there has occurred a material change in circumstances that is substantial and continuing since the last order of child support. | Ala. R. Jud. Admin. 32(A)(3) |
| Alaska | A material change of circumstances is required. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order is presumed to be a material change in circumstances. | Alaska R. Civ. P. 90.3 |
| Arizona | A showing of a substantial and continuing change in circumstances is required. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order will be considered evidence of a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. | Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-327 and 25-503 |
| Arkansas | A material change in circumstances is required. At least a 20% increase or decrease in either parent's income will constitute a material change in circumstances. Other changes in the parties’ circumstances may also entitle a party to a modification of child support. | Ark. Code § 9-14-107 |
| California | Must be based on a substantial change in circumstances since the last order. If an amount is stipulated by the parties, no change of circumstances is necessary. As a general rule, modification may be granted for a 20% change in the order or $50, whichever is less. | Cal. Fam. Code §§ 4064 and 4065 |
| Colorado | Substantial and continuing change of circumstances is required. A 10% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-122(1)(b) |
| Connecticut | Substantial change in circumstances or substantial deviation from child support guidelines is required. A 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-86 |
| Delaware | If filed within two and one-half years of the last determination must allege with particularity a substantial change of circumstances not caused by the petitioner's voluntary or wrongful conduct. Must be a 10% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. Beyond two and one-half years, neither the "particularity" nor the "10%" requirement applies. | Del. Fam. Ct. R. Civ. P. 508 |
| District of Columbia | Rebuttable presumption that there has been a substantial and material change of circumstances that warrants a modification of a support order if application of the guideline to the current circumstances of the parents results in an amount of child support that varies from the amount of the existing support order by 15% or more. | D.C. Code § 16-916.01 |
| Florida | Substantial change in circumstances required. A 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order, but not less than $50 is required. | Fla. Stat. § 61.30(1)(b) |
| Georgia | Must be based on a substantial change in the income and financial status of either parent or the financial needs of the child since the last order. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Ga. Code § 19-6-15(k)(1)-(3) |
| Hawaii | At least a 10% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 576D-7(d) and Hawaii Child Support Guidelines |
| Idaho | A material and substantial change of circumstances indicating that modification would be in the child’s best interests. | Idaho Code § 32-706 |
| Illinois | Must be at least a 20% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order or a showing of a substantial change in circumstances. | 750 ILCS 5/510(a)(1)-(2) |
| Indiana | Must be at least a 20% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order or a showing of a substantial change in circumstances that would make the current support order unreasonable. | Ind. Code § 31-16-8-1 |
| Iowa | Must be at least a 10% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order or a substantial change in circumstances. | Iowa Code § 598.21C |
| Kansas | Must be at least a 10% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order or a material change in circumstances. | Kansas Child Support Guidelines |
| Kentucky | Must be at least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. If either party files a modification action within one (1) year of the initial support order, the filing party must show a 25% difference between the new calculation under the state’s guidelines and the current support order. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.213 |
| Louisiana | A rebuttable presumption is made when there is at least a 25% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order, a material and substantial change has occured, or the current support order was established/last modified more than three years ago. | La. Stat. tit. 9 § 311 |
| Maine | If the current support order deviates by at least 15% from the new calculation based on the state’s guidelines within three years of the current support order, the court will recognize this as a substantial change of circumstances and modify the support order according to state guidelines. If it has been more than three years since the current support order was issued or modified, the court shall review the support order without requiring proof and shall modify the support order according to the state’s guidelines. | Me. Stat. tit. 19-A § 2009 |
| Maryland | Must be a material change in the parties’ situations or at least a 25% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Md. Code, Fam. Law § 12-202 |
| Massachusetts | There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the amount of the order which would result from the application of the guidelines is the appropriate amount of child support to be ordered. If the party shows that it is in the best interests of the child and that the current order is unjust or inappropriate, then the amount of child support shall be adjusted. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 119A § 13 |
| Michigan | A parent can either request a review of the current support order every 36 months or provide evidence of a substantial change in circumstances. | MI Friend of the Court |
| Minnesota | A presumption is made that there has been a substantial change in circumstances if there is at least a 20% difference and at least a $75 per month higher or lower calculated cost than the current support order. | Minn. Stat. § 518A.39 |
| Mississippi | Must show a substantial change in circumstances. Must be at least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state’s guidelines and the current support order. | Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-101 |
| Missouri | A 50% increase or decrease in either parent's income. | Mo. Code Regs. tit. 13 § 40-106.010 |
| Montana | A current support order may be modified if it has been at least 36 months since the date the order was entered or last reviewed. If the modification request is less than 36 months, then there must be a showing of a significant change of circumstances. A significant change of circumstances is when the income of one or both parents has changed by at least 30%. | Order Modification (mt.gov) |
| Nebraska | At least a 10% difference, but not less than a $25 difference, between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order which has lasted at least three months and is expected to last for an additional six months, establishes a rebuttable presumption of a material change of circumstances. | Neb. Sup. Ct. R. 4-217 |
| Nevada | A change in circumstances. | Nev. Admin. Code § 425.170 |
| New Hampshire | A substantial change in circumstances. The Department will provide notice every three years of the parties’ rights to modify the current child support order. | NH Rev. Stat. § 458-C:7 |
| New Jersey | The court will notify the parties of their rights to modify the current child support order every three years. | NJ Admin. Code § 10:110-14.1 |
| New Mexico | A court may modify a current support order upon a showing of material and substantial change in circumstances. At least a 20% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | NM Stat. § 40-4-11.4 |
| New York | If there is a substantial change in circumstances, three years have passed since the current support order, or at least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state’s guidelines and the current support order. | Modification of Child Support Order |
| North Carolina | The current support order may be modified after three years or if there has been a substantial change in circumstances. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order is presumed to be a substantial change in circumstance. | NC Gen. Stat. § 50-13.7 |
| North Dakota | Upon request, the court may review the current support order every 18 months. | ND Health and Human Services |
| Ohio | A substantial change in circumstances or at least a 10% difference between the new calculation under the state’s guidelines and the current support order. | Ohio Rev. Code § 3119.79 |
| Oklahoma | A material change in circumstances. | Okla. Stat. tit. 43 § 118I |
| Oregon | A current support order may be reviewed for modification every 35 months. A party must show a significant change in circumstances. | Modify an Existing Support Order - Oregon Department of Justice |
| Pennsylvania | A material and substantial change in circumstances. | 231 Pa. Code § 1910.19 |
| Rhode Island | A substantial change in circumstances. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state’s guidelines and the current support order or it has been 36 months since the current support order was reviewed or entered. | 218-30-00 RI Code R. § 1.22 |
| South Carolina | A showing of a change in circumstances. | SC Code § 63-17-830 |
| South Dakota | If a support order was made before July 1, 2022, an order may be modified without showing any change in circumstance. If a support order was made after July 1, 2022, a support order may only be modified if it was entered three years or more before requesting a modification or a substantial change in circumstances has occurred. | Modification of South Dakota Child Support Orders |
| Tennessee | A significant variance exists. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04-.05 |
| Texas | A material and substantial change in circumstances. The current support order was established/last modified three years ago. At least a 20% difference or $100 from the amount that would be awarded between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Support Modification Process |
| Utah | A substantial change in circumstances that is not temporary in nature. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | Utah Code § 78B-12-210(9) |
| Vermont | A real, substantial, and unanticipated change in circumstances. If the current support order has not been modified in three years, the real, substantial, and unanticipated change in circumstances requirement is waived. | 15 V.S.A. § 660 |
| Virginia | A material change in circumstances. | Va. Code § 20-108.1 |
| Washington | A change in circumstances. | WA Department of Social and Health Services |
| West Virginia | A substantial change in circumstances. At least a 15% difference between the new calculation under the state's guidelines and the current support order. | W. Va. Code § 48-11-105 |
| Wisconsin | A substantial change in circumstances. | Wis. Stat. § 767.59(1f) |
| Wyoming | If the current support order follows the state’s guidelines, the petitioner must show that the application of the presumptive child support would be unjust or inappropriate. | Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-307 |
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Follow these instructions to modify a current order for child support:
Write the state where you plan to execute the modification. Record the agreement’s “Effective Date,” including the day, month, and year.
List the parents’ names, specifying the parent paying the child support and receiving the child support. Include their addresses.
List all children whom the parents have together and who will benefit from the child support payments. Include their birthdates. Specify whether the parents are expecting other children.
Describe the original child support agreement, including the date the parties entered it and the payment amounts.
Record the new payment amounts and specify their frequency. Indicate whether the agreed-upon child support follows state guidelines. If the payments aren’t in accordance with state guidelines, both parties should acknowledge their rights and show mutual agreement to deviate from state guidelines.
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Describe the responsibility of tuition and medical expenses. Specify if both parties will share these obligations equally or if one parent will assume full responsibility.
You and the other parent can decide whether you’ll agree to a waiver of payment through a clerk. If you want to waive payment through a clerk, the paying party will issue their payments directly to the receiving party.
Specify how you’ll handle disputes, whether it’s through legal action or mediation. Detail if the prevailing party can recover reasonable attorney’s fees if they go to court.
Obtain both parents’ signatures. Ensure each party prints their full name next to their signature.
If people are witnessing your signatures, have them write their information. This information includes their signatures, names, and addresses.
Have the notary complete their acknowledgment, ensuring they either know both parties personally or receive satisfactory evidence of their identities.
Download a child support modification form in PDF or Word format:
