MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S.

Attorneys at Law

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WASHINGTON CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATION

The Order of Child Support can be adjusted through a child support modification procedure if there has been a substantial change in the circumstances of the parents or the child.  Some examples include when one or both parents' income has substantially increased or decreased; if the child now spends a greater amount of time with one or the other parent; or if the child has special needs, including special schooling or medical care.

Filing for modification of child support requires filling out the mandatory forms, serving copies on the other parent, filing them with the Court and scheduling a hearing.  If the other parent is receiving welfare benefits, the County Prosecuting Attorney must be served as well.  In King County, a trial is scheduled in about 4 months.  It is a trial by affidavit, meaning that there is usually no oral testimony, it is all submitted in writing in advance, with oral argument by the attorneys.  The court has the ability to modify child support retroactive to the date of filing the action.

If your Order of Child Support is registered with the State Division of Child Support and at least three years have passed since it was entered, the State will assist you in getting child support modified administratively at no charge to you.  However, this process takes much longer than doing it on your own.

You must provide proof of your income.  This proof includes your last two income tax returns, six months pay stubs, and bank records.

If both parties agree and the Order meets the State mandatory schedules, they can get the Order of Child Support approved by a judge without the need of a hearing.  If they do not agree, the case can go to trial and a judge will decide.  The procedures for setting a trial vary from county to county. In King County, a trial by affidavit is scheduled about 4 months after the date of filing.

It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the filing of Child Support Modification cases.  Effective October 1, 2009 the Washington State Child Support Schedules will be changing.

Some of the changes to the child support calculations are as follows:

• The Child Support Schedules start at combined net income of $1,000 instead of $600

• The Child Support Schedules continue to a combined net income of $12,000, instead of stopping at $5,000 (presumptive) and $7,000 (advisory).

• Some overtime and 2nd job income can be excluded from income.

• The deduction for retirement contributions from gross income is increased from $2,000 to $5,000 per year

• The method of determining income to be imputed to a parent when records are lacking has been expanded in a hierarchy.

• Health care costs (to be shared) have been defined, and the 5% monthly threshold has been eliminated.

• The minimum support payment has been increased from $25 per child per month to $50 per child per month.

This could have a significant effect on many Child Support Orders, increasing the amounts that will be due in the State of Washington. If you would like to have your child support order reviewed to determine the amount of child support under the new laws, please call our office.

The free information contained in these pages is not intended to be legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult with an attorney before taking any action. Feel free to contact an attorney at MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. at 425-255-4542 to schedule an appointment and discuss these issues with you.

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  MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, Renton, Washington, 98057  Phone: (425) 255-4542

Our law firm consists of four lawyers practicing in our Renton, King County, WA law office (easily accessible to the greater Seattle area), so you can find an attorney / lawyer who is a good fit for you.  Our experienced trial lawyers are knowledgeable and aggressive in protecting your legal rights under the Washington state marriage and divorce laws. We use our knowledge and experience to obtain the best help and results for our clients. Our emphasis is in Washington family law, divorce (contested and uncontested), simple wills and estate planning documents, probate, and personal injury.  Please click on the Helpful Legal Information button for free information and details about these areas of practice in the state of Washington, including divorce, family law, legal separation, property division, child support, spousal maintenance, parenting plan, custody, visitation, custody relocation, child support modification, custody modification, maintenance modification, parenting plan modification, contempt, third party custody, restraining order, domestic  violence, Social Security Benefits, paternity, adoption, wills, Washington Community Property Agreement, Durable Power of Attorney, living will, probate and personal injury legal rights.

Our law firm is conveniently located in Renton, King County, WA, just off the freeway at the intersection of I-405 and I-167, easily accessible from Seattle and Bellevue Washington. Our four family law and divorce attorneys represent clients in the greater Seattle area and throughout the State of Washington, including the communities of Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Fairwood, Cascade, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Auburn, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Skyway, Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent Meridian, Lake Youngs, Burien, SeaTac, Factoria, Medina, Fox Island, Gig Harbor, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Seahurst, Redondo, Enumclaw and most of south King County. Call 425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with an experienced family law and divorce attorney / lawyer. Our attorneys represent both men and women in divorce and the drafting of simple wills, and are members of the Christian Legal Society. Our lawyers offer affordable rates (reasonably priced) for uncontested divorce.

The free information and help contained in these pages is not intended to be legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult with a lawyer before taking any legal action. Feel free to call us at 425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with a family law lawyer for help regarding your marriage, divorce (contested or uncontested), custody, complex property division, child support and maintenance, adoption, will, estate plan or probate. We offer inexpensive (cheap) discount package deals and for our wills, simple will and estate planning documents. We offer a Christian perspective in our practice, yet are aggressive in protecting your rights.  Our attorneys are licensed to practice only in the State of Washington, and are easily accessible to the greater Seattle area.

Serving both male and female clients in the Seattle, King County, WA area, including the communities of Kent, Renton, Tukwila, Southcenter, Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Maple Valley, Des Moines, SeaTac, Burien, Fairwood, Cascade, Covington, Newcastle, Issaquah, Factoria, Black Diamond, Algona, Covington, Fall City, Hobart, Medina, North Bend, Pacific, Buckley, Highline, Wilkeson, Newport Hills, Clyde Hill, Coal Creek, Fox Island, White Center, Boulevard Park, Rainier Beach, Rainier Valley, Bryn Mawr, Redondo, Covington, Kent Kangley, Cougar Mountain, Preston, Ravensdale, Kanaskat, Palmer, Cumberland, Redondo, Midway, Georgetown, Riverton Heights, McMicken Heights, Eastgate, Kennydale, Medina, Overlake, Boeing, Microsoft, Paccar, Kenworth, East Renton Highlands, Preston, Kent East Hill, Lake Meridian, Green River, Star Lake, Lake Sawyer, Duwamish, Seward Park, Columbia City, Georgetown, Holly Park, Sodo, Sammamish, Seahurst, Snoqualmie, Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot, Twin Lakes, Skyway, Bellevue, Enumclaw and most of south King County, WA. This includes zip codes of 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98030, 98031, 98032 98042, 98038, 98040, 98045, 98168, and 98188, and area codes of 206, 253, and 425, .  We represent clients from Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Weyerhaeuser, Valley Medical Center, various hospitals and insurance companies, T-Mobile, and many other employers.  We serve clients of all nationalities and ethnicities, including African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Caucasian, black, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Ethiopian, Italian, Vietnamese, Pacific Islander, Philippine, Irish, English, French, German, and Chinese.  We receive clients of all faiths and religions, including Christian, Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Judaism, Baha'i, New Age, Scientology, Mormon, LDS Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Foursquare, Evangelical, Assembly of God, Episcopal, Foursquare, Lutheran, Bible, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Adventist, Unitarian, atheist, secularist, and agnostic. We also represent clients who are members of labor unions (Teamsters, AFL-CIO, Teachers Union, NEA), unemployed or stay-at-home parents, members of service organizations (Kiwanis, Lions, Masons, Rotary, Shriners, AARP, etc), Democrat and Republican, veterans and military personnel.  Please call to talk to an affordable (inexpensive) Washington state family law attorney / lawyer for help about your divorce (contested or uncontested), complex property division, simple wills, probate or other legal issue.