Child support generally may be changed or modified by filing a motion to modify and demonstrating to the court that the circumstances of the child or one or both parents have materially and substantially changed, or that some period of time (3 years, for example) has passed since the court’s last child support order. And if there has been a material and substantial change in the custody of the child—if, for example, the noncustodial parent who was paying child support has become the custodial parent—the court may change or eliminate the child support obligation based on the change in the custody arrangement.

In Iowa, child support orders can be modified if there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order was issued. This could include significant changes in income, employment, the needs of the child, or the living arrangements of the parents. Additionally, Iowa law typically considers a change in the child's custody arrangement to be a material and substantial change. For instance, if the noncustodial parent who was paying child support becomes the custodial parent, this could lead to a modification or termination of the child support obligation. To initiate a modification, a parent must file a motion to modify with the court, and the court will evaluate whether the circumstances warrant a change in the child support order. Furthermore, under certain conditions, such as the passage of a significant amount of time (often three years) since the last order, a review and modification of child support may be requested even without a substantial change in circumstances.