With the new year comes significant changes for parents in Pennsylvania who pay and receive financial support. The support guidelines are regularly updated but have not been for approximately four years until now.
The new policies went into effect on January 1, 2022. However, Courts will not automatically grant more child support despite the guidelines being updated. Instead, parents will have to file modification requests to secure new orders from the Court.
Modest increases
While the increases are modest, they are all different and based upon the parties’ different income levels. Parents could see the following changes depending on the parties’ combined net monthly incomes as follows:
- $4,000 to $10,000 – 10 percent increase for one child and less than a 15 percent change for multiple children.
- $10,000 to $15,000 – 15 percent increase for one child and 23 percent for more than one child.
- $20,300 to 22,600 – 22 percent increase for one child and 24 percent for multiple children.
- $30,000+ – More than a 25 percent increase for one child and significantly reduced amounts for more than one child.
The chart stops where the combined monthly net income exceeds $30,000 due to the lack of reliable economic data regarding the reasonable needs of children. Those families who have a combined monthly net income in excess of $30,000 per month are considered high-income cases and a three step process is used to calculate child support. Having an experienced family law attorney will help you navigate this process and allow you to obtain the results based on your particular situation.
Parents who file for modifications must show grounds. This means your filing must show a basis for your request and the change in the guidelines is considered sufficient grounds for a modification. The court may also consider income decreases or increases, the amount of insurance premiums, childcare expenses, and extracurricular activity costs. If any of these circumstances exist now, they may also justify a modification of child support. It is extremely important that you file as soon as possible as any modification can only be granted as of the date the request is filed with the court.
Ever-changing family laws in support, custody and divorce require the skills of an experienced attorney who possesses both the knowledge and expertise regarding newly developing regulations and procedures. If you would like assistance regarding a child support modification, please contact my office at (215) 860-9700 or email [email protected] in order to discuss your specific case.