Do you have to wait 3 years to get child support orders modified?

It can be difficult at times for most people to be as patient as they would like to be. Standing in line at a grocery store, waiting for a parking spot and counting the minutes in a doctor’s waiting room can all try a person’s patience.

But when a parent believes they have good reason to have a child support order modified, it can be very difficult to be patient. And when Nevada residents learn that the state has a three-year waiting period after a support order is issued before it can be modified, it can also be difficult for a parent.

The question posed by many parents who want a child support modification before the three-year period is up: “Do I really have to wait three years?” Yes, Clark County says on its website, that’s typical — unless there has been a “change of circumstance.”

So what does “change of circumstance mean”? The state says that if your financial circumstances have changed by 20 percent your request for a modification will be considered.

That can mean anything from a loss of a job for the non-custodial parent paying support to a big promotion and salary increase for either the party paying support or the custodial parent. These circumstances and others resulting in the previously mentioned 20 percent can result in a modification, even if 3 years has not passed.

Of course, in some situations, drastic financial changes can mean that child custody should be modified. A parent who loses a job or relocates outside of Las Vegas or Nevada might trigger a child custody modification request for an existing agreement.

These are all issues that an experienced Las Vegas family law attorney will help clients with so that the best interests of the children involved are protected. Child custody and child support are two of the most important and contentious issues in family law, which is why a skilled attorney can be invaluable in negotiations, hearings or litigation.