Raising children after a split isn't easy for many reasons. The demands of being a parent land heavy when you're the only one shouldering the load. The problems can further multiply when there isn't enough money to carry on, but there could be a way to bring support orders up to the task.

Bring up children isn't cheap. Parents in a middle-income bracket could pay nearly $14,000 every year for necessities like food, health care and clothing. And whatever you're paying when they're young is likely to grow, so it's important that you know when you can take another look at your ongoing support.

Too big for support

While child costs have been outpacing inflation in the last few years, the price also grows with your child's age. This can create issues for parents relying on support from a former partner since amounts aren't likely to increase without a modification.

The courts can revisit orders from past hearings to ensure the kids are taken care of, but you aren't guaranteed an increase just because time has passed. Changes are only allowed when certain standards are met:

• Large changes in the income of the parents
• Big differences in the needs of the children
• Growing medical costs or the loss of health insurance

Requiring change

Small changes may not be enough to move the mark, and you'll have to provide evidence of your claims. From insurance bills to childcare receipts, you're not likely to get your requests fulfilled without documentation to back them up.

Getting a modification starts with understanding what it takes. Make sure your needs fall in line with the requirements, and you could be on your way to getting the support your children need.