How to ask to change a support order

This page is a public educational walkthrough. It is not a retainer, a court form, or a promise about your result. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.

1. Find the existing order or agreement

   A change file needs the current terms. If there is no order yet, you are starting a case, not changing one.

2. Use a motion to change when the rules say that is the path

   Many support changes use Form 15 and supporting financial statements. A brand-new Form 8 is the wrong first page if an order already exists.

3. Write the change you want in numbers

   Old amount, new amount, and the date you say circumstances changed. Vague unhappiness is not a motion record.

4. Serve every party named in the old order

   Including a support enforcement office if it is on the order.

5. The old order stays in force until a new order says otherwise

   Stopping payment because you plan to file is how arrears start.

Official law on this site: family-law.

Disclaimer: Know The Law publishes legal information for the public, not legal advice. Court forms, fees and filing channels change. Read the official statute text and the official form page linked from this guide before you act. We do not represent you and we do not file documents for you. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.