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Modifying Alimony or Child Support Due to COVID-19 Unemployment

March 31, 2020

By: Derren Ciaglia & Terry Young 

If you have been furloughed, laid off, or otherwise had a change in income due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), it may affect your ability to meet your alimony and child support obligations. Here is what you need to know if you are currently making court-ordered alimony or child support payments:

  • In Florida, alimony and child support can be modified when the circumstances or the financial ability of either party changes. The change must be significant, material, involuntary and permanent in nature. Many individuals are experiencing significant changes in circumstances or the financial ability to meet alimony and/or child support obligations due to being furloughed, laid off, or experiencing other decreases in income as a result of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy.  

  • If you have experienced a change in circumstances or financial ability such that you are unable to meet your alimony and/or child support obligations, you may be able to reduce your obligation by filing a petition for modification with the court.

  • It is important to not delay the filing of a modification petition because the court has the authority to modify your alimony or child support obligation retroactive to the date of filing of the petition for modification. 

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This article is informational only. You should consult an attorney before acting or failing to act. The law may change rapidly and no warranty is given. LOWNDES DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ALL ARTICLES ARE PROVIDED AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS. Consult a Lowndes attorney if you wish to establish an attorney/client relationship.
Derren

Derren K. Ciaglia devotes her practice to challenging family law matters, including divorce, child support, child custody, alimony, paternity matters and family law litigation involving complex financial and parenting issues. As a mother of three, she understands the importance of minimizing the effect the legal process can have on families. She tries to find creative solutions that are tailored to each family’s unique circumstances.

Trained in the interdisciplinary model of collaborative family law, Derren is passionate about advocating for her clients and providing them with support and guidance during what can be difficult and uncertain times in their lives. She is a compassionate listener, a good problem solver and settlement focused, negotiating on behalf of clients both in and out of mediation.

Derren is active in the Orlando community, currently serving as vice president of children’s programming for the Rosen Jewish Community Center Board of Directors. She is also a member of The Florida Bar and the Orange County Bar Association.

Admitted to practice law in Florida, Derren also previously practiced in Illinois. She earned her law degree cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she received a Family Law Certificate and three Book Awards in perspectives of family, collaborative law, and intimate partner violence assistance. She has dedicated her entire legal career to matters involving families.

Terry

Terry Young has tried over 50 jury trials to verdict and more than 200 non-jury trials. He has more than 30 years of experience – in local, state and Federal courts – ranging from disputes over United States presidential elections to multi-national “bet-the-company” litigation, from high profile divorces to multi-million-dollar personal injury cases, from complex contract disputes to first amendment defenses.

Whether a public persona or a private family, a major corporation or a fledgling new venture, Terry represents both plaintiffs and defendants, from counseling through trial and appeal. While Terry advocates on behalf of his clients in court, he is a firm believer in dispute resolution whenever appropriate. Most importantly, whether in arbitration, mediation, divorce, or trial, or negotiating a private settlement, he has the utmost regard for clients’ confidentiality, privacy and ultimate objectives.

Sometimes those objectives are to minimize costs – even in the case of a high-profile divorce. Terry has represented a number of public figures in family law matters.

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