Monday, November 24, 2008

Child Support Modification

Modification of Child Support
Did you know the court may modify child support provisions in judgments at any time until the child reaches 18 years of age, and until the age of 191/2 under statutes providing for postmajority support. Here is how you do it.These specific statutes provide for modification
A."as the circumstances of the parents, and the benefit of the children require,"
MCL 552.17(1)
(divorce, separate maintenance, annulment);
552.17 Revision and alteration of judgment concerning care, custody, maintenance, and support of children; enforceability of order.
Sec. 17.
(1) After entry of a judgment concerning annulment, divorce, or separate maintenance and on the petition of either parent, the court may revise and alter a judgment concerning the care, custody, maintenance, and support of some or all of the children, as the circumstances of the parents and the benefit of the children require.
(2) An order concerning the support of a child of the parties is governed by and is enforceable as provided in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, MCL 552.601 to 552.650. If this act contains a specific provision regarding the contents or enforcement of a support order that conflicts with a provision in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, MCL 552.601 to 552.650, this act controls in regard to that provision.

B."upon proper application to the court and due notice to the opposite party," MCL 552.455 (FSA); and552.455 Modification of order; application and notice; order void upon entry of judgment of divorce or separate maintenance.
Sec. 5.
An order entered under section 2 may be modified by the court upon proper application to the court and due notice to the opposite party. If a judgment of divorce or of separate maintenance is entered by a court having personal jurisdiction over the parties, an order entered under this act is null and void upon the effective date of the judgment

C."for proper cause shown or because of change of circumstances," MCL 722.27(1)(c) (Child Custody Act).

722.27 Child custody disputes; powers of court; support order; enforcement of judgment or order.
Sec. 7.
(1) If a child custody dispute has been submitted to the circuit court as an original action under this act or has arisen incidentally from another action in the circuit court or an order or judgment of the circuit court, for the best interests of the child the court may do 1 or more of the following:

(c) Modify or amend its previous judgments or orders for proper cause shown or because of change of circumstances until the child reaches 18 years of age and, subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, MCL 552.605b, until the child reaches 19 years and 6 months of age. The court shall not modify or amend its previous judgments or orders or issue a new order so as to change the established custodial environment of a child unless there is presented clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child. The custodial environment of a child is established if over an appreciable time the child naturally looks to the custodian in that environment for guidance, discipline, the necessities of life, and parental comfort. The age of the child, the physical environment, and the inclination of the custodian and the child as to permanency of the relationship shall also be considered. If a motion for change of custody is filed during the time a parent is in active military duty, the court shall not enter an order modifying or amending a previous judgment or order, or issue a new order, that changes the child's placement that existed on the date the parent was called to active military duty, except the court may enter a temporary custody order if there is clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child. Upon a parent's return from active military duty, the court shall reinstate the custody order in effect immediately preceding that period of active military duty. If a motion for change of custody is filed after a parent returns from active military duty, the court shall not consider a parent's absence due to that military duty in a best interest of the child determination.

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