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How the Coronavirus Pandemic Could Affect Your Child Support

McKean Family Law > Child Support  > How the Coronavirus Pandemic Could Affect Your Child Support

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Could Affect Your Child Support

Child Support and Covid 19

The global pandemic known as Coronavirus (or COVID-19) has wreaked havoc not only on the medical elements of society but on millions of working people who have either lost their employment or their own businesses. While many people aren’t really thinking about it, this worldwide emergency has begun to affect every corner of law, as well, including family law matters such as child support.

At the heart of all this is what we touched on above – the challenges faced by those who have lost employment or a significant reduction of income. If you are currently paying support and your income has been affected by COVID-19, there are certain steps you should take immediately concerning your support order; accordingly, if your income has been affected by Coronavirus, there is an opportunity for you to consider if it is appropriate to file for modification of your support order.

Though many courts are closed or offer limited access due to the virus, it is still imperative that you file for a modification of support in a timely manner. Courts have already canceled all prescheduled events, and new events are not being scheduled as of yet (as far as we are aware, courts are only hearing cases wherein there is an “emergency,” such as custody involving endangerment of a child or filing for a Protection From Abuse Order). By filing for modification immediately, you are on the road to preserving the retroactive date for the modification to go into effect once the case is listed and modified with the court.

In essence, if your order is eventually modified, the overall amount of support can be reduced by filing now rather than procrastinating.

We here at McKean Family Law understand what you’re going through; you feel unsure of what the next step is after losing your job or income, and that’s where our skilled family law attorneys come in, advising and guiding you during this unsettling time. As the courts are frequently changing their procedures to comply with government orders or advisories, we are following these developments day in and day out.

If you are currently paying support, be sure to discuss your issues and whether you qualify for a reduction in support with one of our family law attorneys. Doing so might help you experience a massive reduction in stress (at least in the short-term), save you money (in the long-term), and place you in a better position once the courts reopen and life (hopefully) begins to return to normal.

McKean Family Law is located in Placer County, which has authorized professional offices to re-open as part of California’s Phase II reopening. We are carefully following the safety advice of state and local health authorities. Drop-ins are discouraged to ensure we limit the number of people in the office, and we continue to encourage phone or teleconference appointments in lieu of face-to-face meetings. If you do feel the need to have an in-person meeting, masks are encouraged at all times and will be required if we cannot maintain 6 foot distances. This would include situations where there will be more than one person present (for example, you have a support person with you, mediations with both parties are present, depositions with multiple people in the conference room, etc.). We are taking necessary precautions, including daily disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces. We provide disposable masks and hand sanitizer for use in the office for your health and safety. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about the safety measures we are taking to “slow the spread”.

If California unemployment has upset your life and you don’t know where to turn with your child assistance concerns, contact McKean Family Law at (916) 666-7874. We can also discuss the highly relatable Cares Act with you.