Using data from the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation, this report shows that nonresident fathers' incomes are quite volatile, qualifying many of them for periodic adjustments in child support orders. Several factors other than changes in income predicted whether the nonresident fathers received adjustments in their orders. It was found that two methods of determining child support order modifications—a cost of living adjustment and an adjustment based on wage and tax records—would likely increase modifications, but the two methods could yield different results.
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