WHAT HAPPENS TO CHILD SUPPORT WHEN A PARENT LOSES THEIR JOB DUE TO COVID-19
In normal times, a child support paying parent who experiences a substantial loss in income will file a Motion for Modification in Family Court, often coupled with a Motion for Temporary Order seeking an immediate reduction in support. However, the coronavirus crisis has effectively changed how the courts hear these modification cases.
However, this lack of immediate access to the courts should not discourage child-support paying parents from taking some action following their job loss. To the extent that new Modification cases “will be docketed”, best practices suggest that a child-support paying parent who is laid off should still file a for Modification as soon as possible.
The precise method for filing a Motion for Modification during the coronavirus is likely to vary between individual courts
Electronic e-filing is available for new modification actions, this is likely to be the preferred filing method. If you lost your job, or wages were reduced, you should consider filing immediately.
