How to Increase Child Support Payments in Rhode Island
- 1). Review your personal finances and any financial information that you have about the other parent to determine whether you can show a significant change in circumstances -- if fewer than three years have passed since the Rhode Island Family Court issued the current child support order. Identify the specific reason why you would like to receive higher child support payments, such as a job loss or decrease in income for you, an increase in income for the other parent or your child's needs resulting in extra expenses. Research the Rhode Island guideline chart to estimate the recalculated child support amount if the court decides to approve your modification request.
- 2). Contact the Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services, which offers assistance to parents who would like to modify existing court orders. Ask the agency to work with you on a motion to modify. Prepare to explain why you believe that changed circumstances require an increase in child support.
- 3). Ask the Office of Child Support Services to provide you with its packet of information and court forms for parents who would like to file their motions independently, if you wish to proceed without the agency's assistance. Prepare the court form and follow state requirements to file your completed paperwork and to provide the other parent with notice of your motion to modify.
- 4). Contact the Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services, which will assist you with the motion if more than three years have passed since the court issued the current order for child support. Request a packet for parents who file their motions without agency assistance, if you would like to do the paperwork on your own.
- 5). Prepare a motion for review and adjustment to file with Rhode Island Family Court on your own, if you would like to proceed without the agency's help. For this type of motion, state law allows for a review without proof of a significant change in circumstances. Complete the form by stating the current payment amount, confirming that more than three years have passed and asserting that recalculation according to the state guideline chart would result in a new payment amount. File your motion with the court that issued your current order and follow Rhode Island procedures to properly notify the other parent by mail.
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