Child Support Modification

[Sharon]

I am contemplating taking my ex back to court for child support modifications. 5 years ago when we divorced my twins were 9 years old & had the needs of any typical 9 year old children. Now they are almost 15 & in high school & the expense has becoming overwhealming. My ex is an extremely bitter & miserable human being & since our divorce has gone to great lengths to hurt me financially. Needless to say, he will be anything but cooperative & will try to hurt me in anyway he can if I try to ammend the child support.  I have been employed for 5 years but recently cut my job down to part time to be able to accomadate my childrens school & extra curricular activities.
In our divorce we recieved the standard every other weekend visitation with me being the primary parent. But in an effort to make things go smoother for my children I agreed to some changes in visitation which has not been a problem so far. Instead of doing the every other weekend thing he gets them every Saturday afternoon & brings them home on Sunday night.  I am wondering if this "verbal" agreement will become an issue if I try to ammend the support?  I also re-married 2 years ago, will this have any effect on the amount of support he pays?
I'm not a legally savvy person but I would like to know what I am up against in this endevor. I would appreciate any information & advise on this process.

[m_t]

Don't expect your new p/t status to result in an upward modification - it's voluntary, and Dad won't be penalized for your decision.

[Sharon]

At the time of our divorce I was unemployed & had been for 9 years.  I'm not trying to hurt their Dad but he is the one who is all about being "fair".  Will the fact that I am gainfully employed now & still having a hard time meeting their needs not show cause for adjusting the support?  Teenagers are very expensive.  I don't want to make it hard for him to live.   I get $150.00 a week child support & didn't realize when I agreed to that amount that it wasn't 25% of his income like the Alabama guidelines are set.  I chalk that up to my own stupidy & I plan to be better prepared if I decide to pursue this.

[Sharon]

Can I request a child support review from the state?  If so, where do I start this proceedure?

[Steve80]

What my EX did was hire a lawyer to file a "petetion to produce" through the circuit clerk's office. I was ordered to send the clerk's office my last three years pay stubs and W 2's.


It's that simple.

[Sharon]

Do I have to hire a lawyer or can I just go through the state to get a review?

[Lee Borden]

Call child services. This is what they're set up to do, and you can't beat the price.

[Sharon]

Mr Borden, thank you so much for your response.  I am in Calhoun County, would "child services" in my county be DHR?

[Lee Borden]

Yes.

[Jade]

At the time of our divorce I was unemployed & had been for 9 years.  I'm not trying to hurt their Dad but he is the one who is all about being "fair".  Will the fact that I am gainfully employed now & still having a hard time meeting their needs not show cause for adjusting the support?  Teenagers are very expensive.  I don't want to make it hard for him to live.   I get $150.00 a week child support & didn't realize when I agreed to that amount that it wasn't 25% of his income like the Alabama guidelines are set.  I chalk that up to my own stupidy & I plan to be better prepared if I decide to pursue this.

I definitely would go with what the guidelines state.  You can't do anything about the past, but keep in mind that either party can ask for a child support review at anytime.