Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Paying way too much for child support!

I was legally seperated from my wife approximately one year ago.. She was represented by an attorney and I was not.. I was ignorant of the system and signed pretty much everything she put in front of me thinking that a judge had to decide in the end what I would be obligated to pay in support.. I am now stuck paying $3000 per month in child support and I only make $3000 per month.. I have heard three different answers from three different attorney's.. The first one told me I couldn't do anything until the order was finalized and then the next one told me I couldn't touch it for 1 year and now I am being told that I probably won't be able to do anything because I waited too long to petition it. What do I do?


Asked on 10/17/06, 4:34 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: Paying way too much for child support!

Part of what may be confusing is that there are three possible approaches to this matter, and depending on the precise situation one remedy may be better than another, and some may not be available at all. There are processes to vacate orders that are effected under fraud, mistake, etc. You generally have to do this within one year of the entry of the order. If you are past a year you can file a motion for modification or adjustment (under hardship provisions). If the Order of Support was a temporary order it is subject to change on a motion to modify temporary orders.

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Answered on 10/17/06, 9:19 pm


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