What is an Abatement, and Can You Request One for Child Support Payments in Face of COVID-19 Pandemic?

While nearly everything in our world has changed dramatically in the past several weeks, one thing that hasn’t – and won’t unless you take action – is the amount of, and frequency with which, child support payments are due.

We know the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, and some are more affected than others in terms of job loss and financial responsibilities. For families experiencing a significant change to their situation, there are ways to ease some of the financial burden while still fulfilling child support responsibilities, including by requesting an abatement to their child support payments.

What is an Abatement?

If you have already been furloughed, lost your job, or otherwise experienced a significant change to your employment or financial situation, now is the time to consider filing for an abatement or modification to your child support payments. (To learn more about child support modifications, be sure to read our post on why now is the time to file for a modification).

An abatement differs from a modification in that, rather than changing the amount of money you are responsible for, it simply delays child support payments. The amount stays the same.

Can an Abatement Be Requested in Light of COVID-19?

Yes. If you are concerned about your ability to continue meeting your child support obligations, please get in touch with our team at Vasquez de Lara Law Group. We’ll work with you to understand your situation and discuss your options for filing an abatement request.

We know this is a challenging time for so many families, and taking action sooner rather than later may help significantly ease your immediate financial burden. Get in touch with us right away to schedule a virtual consultation.