# 3 yr re-calculation of child support

**URL:** <https://forum.rosen.com/t/3-yr-re-calculation-of-child-support/2305>\
**Category:** Divorce and Separation Answers\
**Created:** [July 26, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/3-yr-re-calculation-of-child-support/2305 "2005-07-26T20:39:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JanetFritts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@JanetFritts](https://forum.rosen.com/u/JanetFritts)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/3-yr-re-calculation-of-child-support/2305/1 "2005-07-26T20:39:44Z")

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Dear CamillaCat:

Greetings. 1.) If neither party asks for a recalculation, then it does not get changed.

2.) No. You can only go back as far as the motion you file to modify the support.

Also, if she asks for more support, he may just want to pay a little more without having it recalculated at the time, which may keep him from paying more.

Hope that answers your question. Thank you.

Janet L. Fritts  
Attorney with Rosen Divorce  
4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 500  
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607  
919.787.6668 main phone  
919.256.1665 direct fax

10925 David Taylor Drive, Suite 100  
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262  
704.644.2831 main voice  
704.307.4595 main fax

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**Author:** ![CamillaCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@CamillaCat](https://forum.rosen.com/u/CamillaCat)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://forum.rosen.com/t/3-yr-re-calculation-of-child-support/2305/2 "2005-07-22T06:23:33Z")

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I understand that child support can be recalculated every 3 years. Here are my questions:

1. Does child support HAVE to be recalculated every 3 years? Or can all matters just remain the same, avoiding legal involvement?

2. My husband will be coming up on the 3 year mark soon where the child support he pays can be recalcuated. He is assuming that his ex will NOT initiate recalculating support after the 3 years has expired. If this happens, and say, 5 years later his ex decides to recalculate support, and the support refigured is HIGHER than what he currently pays, can she go back and get arrears from the previous 5 years?

I am only asking because, as matters stand, my husband will receive a sizable raise in a few years. Just wondering if she can get “back support”, even though she never bothered to recalculate at the 3 year mark.

Hope I made sense! 🙂 Thanks for your comments, they’re much appreciated!!
