{"id":375968,"date":"2018-04-17T14:41:05","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T19:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-child-support-modification.html"},"modified":"2025-05-26T13:00:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T18:00:59","slug":"pennsylvania-child-support-modification","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-child-support-modification.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Child Support Modification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Pennsylvania Child Support Modification<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

When you pay child support<\/a> in Pennsylvania, the obligation amount is based on a specific formula that begins with monthly income as the determining factor. But what happens when your monthly income drastically shifts because you changed jobs<\/a> or had to take a leave of absence due to a family emergency? It doesn’t happen automatically, but a parent who has had a change in circumstances might be able to change the child support order by filing for a modification<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

The Pennsylvania courts calculate child support<\/a> according to an "income shares" model. This means that the court will try to estimate the amount of money that the parents would’ve spent on the child had they remained together and combined their financial resources. The court uses guidelines<\/a> to arrive at a child support amount and that amount is presumptively correct. Once the order has been finalized, the only way that a parent can modify it is by showing that there’s been a "material and substantial change in circumstances" such as job loss or relocation.<\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania Child Support Modification at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n

For a detailed legal analysis of the law, an attorney’s insight is necessary; however, a plain language synopsis can help provide a general understanding of the law. See the chart below for an overview of the statute detailing Pennsylvania’s rules for child support modification.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statute<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.19<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Modification vs. Termination<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

With child support modification, the obligation remains; the amount has either been reduced or increased. A termination means that the child support order has ceased and the obligor doesn’t have to make payments anymore as happens, for instance, when the child is emancipated or reaches the age of majority.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Changes in Income<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

The change in income can be either an increase in income which would result in a higher child support obligation or a decrease which would result in a lower payment.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Changes in Parenting Time<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n

Support obligations can also change if the parenting time changes as can happen when the parents transition to a shared parenting time arrangement or when there are multiple family adjustments.<\/p>\r\n

Shared Parenting Time Adjustments<\/b><\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania provide for adjustment when the child spends 40% or more of overnight stays with the obligor parent.<\/p>\r\n

Multiple Family Adjustments<\/b><\/p>\r\n

For parents with multiple families, a change in support could result. Pennsylvania’s guidelines provide that a parent’s child support can be reduced if the total of the obligation is more than 50% of their monthly net income.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania Child Support Modification: Related Resources<\/h2>\r\n