I'm not an attorney, but I believe child support can be modified any time there is a change in circumstances (income goes up/down, time share changes, etc.), but it may depend on the laws in the state that has jurisdiction over the case. I don't believe the cost of living is a factor, except that each law has it's own 'formula' to calculate support so it's likely to only consider the cost of living in the state that has jurisdiction over the case. Your best bet is to consult with an attorney familiar with the laws in your state or the state that has jurisdiction.

In our state, CS is up for modification every 3 years. But you should check with your state.

For our state, substantial change in circumstance or every 3 years.

I also think in our state it is either a substantial change in circumstance OR every 3 years.

Well......looks like I was wrong. When I got home there were 3 letters in the mail from the Attorney General. X has requested that his CS be lowered and they want us to come in for mediation in December.

After 5 years, we had our first modification last August. He didn't pay that month, but started making the new payments in September. He paid consistently until February this year (6 months) until he got fired from his job (excessive safety violations). He worked sporatically until September, never making a full payment. He is behind in his payments. He hasn't helped pay for any extras since the modification (sports fees or school fees)or helped in any way (clothes, supplies, lunch money, etc....). I'm not sure how the AG can see fit to decrease his CS when he's behind. But, whatever.

With my daughter's father, I went 18 years with no modification. He was ordered to pay $72 a month for the entire 18 years of her minority. He never paid and owes so much already with interest, what was the point of wasting MY time in court to modify? He already owes more then he'll ever be able to pay and the monthly interest has been more than the principal for YEARS. He works sporadically & when he does, I get small payments. [I mean like $10-20 at a time]

With my son's father, he was ordered to pay. Five years later when they did a new calculation, I had to pay him for a couple of years, then a new calculation (when he stopped seeing my son) had him owing me again. It was never modified again. So, the only time it was modified was when time share was changed. He never worked (on the books) so it was pointless to go to court. The court always imputed income to him because I could not prove his under the table income and he claimed to be unemployed.

So, my point is that modifications are not always 'automatic'. DCSS will review the case every 2-3 years and if they feel a modification is necessary, they will file for it. I was told that a significant change of 25% in income (either up or down) would be enough to ask for a modification. But, each state does their own way.

You know, I hear people (mostly fathers) complain that the woman is always favored in divorces and custiody disputes. NOT I!!!! I have been constantly screwed over by X since day 1. He MUST be lying on the paperwork. I'm so disgusted!!!! X always gets his way. No matter what he says and does, he never looks bad or gets caught in his lie. He even convinced a wonderful non-profit organization that I was trying to get money out of him. $316!!!!!! Boy, if I was, I wasn't aiming very high......If I was trying to get money out of someone, I would've gotten knocked up by someone with a little more money than a truck driver.