For noncustodial parents, a child support obligation can take a financial toll. Even those parents who agree to a certain amount of child support, the weekly payments can quickly eat into savings and make it difficult to build a financial safety net. This is especially true when changed circumstances reduce a noncustodial parent's income. Whether on account of reduced hours or decreased pay, noncustodial parents who see their income drop may be able to successfully seek a child support modification, which would reduce their weekly obligation.
One group of people may be able to secure this modification relatively quickly: those who are called into emergency military service. Under Missouri law, an individual is called into emergency military service when he or she is a member of the National Guard or some sort of other reserve unit and is called up to active military duty for a period of time in excess of 30 days. If this occurs, then the individual needs to secure a notarized letter from his or her commanding officer. This letter must specify when the emergency military service commenced as well as the noncustodial parent's income.