Malika M. Evans, Esquire ©
The Covid-19 (“coronavirus”) crisis and resulting self-quarantine measures are causing many people to experience a sudden decrease or total loss of income. Those who pay court ordered child support or spousal support may be left wondering how to meet their obligations while the local, state, and federal government try to provide financial relief to families.
If you experience reduced earning or loss of employment, the attorneys at The Myerson Law Group in Reston, Virginia, can help you petition a court to reduce or eliminate your support obligation.
Importantly, however, under Virginia law support orders may not be “retroactively modified.” In other words, your existing support obligation will continue at the current amount until the court orders a new support payment amount.
Fortunately, at the final hearing on a motion to modify support, the court may order the modified support amount to be effective from the date when you filed your petition for modification. For this reason, it is crucial to work with an attorney to submit your petition to the court without delay.
Although the Supreme Court of Virginia ordered a suspension of civil cases during the present state of emergency, as of the date of this article, Circuit Courts and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandra are permitting the filing of new cases, including support modification cases, either electronically or through other modified filing systems.
In between filing a petition and your final hearing, it may also be to your advantage to negotiate a fair resolution with your ex-spouse if you are unable to pay your current child support or spousal support payments. The attorneys at The Myerson Law Group, P.C. can help you navigate this process and find a solution during these financially uncertain times.