Modification Impact Calculator
Calculate how changes in income or circumstances affect existing child support or alimony orders.
Results
Visualization
How It Works
Support orders can be modified when there is a material change in circumstances, typically a 10-20% change in income. The court recalculates support based on current incomes using the same formula as the original order.
The Formula
Projected Payment = Current Payment x (New Income / Original Income)
Variables
- Current Payment — Existing monthly support order amount
- Income Ratio — New income divided by original income
- Threshold — Minimum change percentage required for modification (10-20%)
Worked Example
Current payment $1,500 based on $6,000/mo income. New income $4,500 (-25%): Projected = $1,500 x 0.75 = $1,125. Change = -$375/mo (-25%), exceeds 15% threshold.
Practical Tips
- Voluntary income reduction (quitting a job) may not justify a modification.
- Courts can impute income based on earning capacity.
- File for modification promptly -- changes are not retroactive to before filing.
- Both increases and decreases in income can trigger modification.
- Some states have automatic review processes every 3 years.