A child support lawyer specializes in helping parents obtain or modify support orders. These attorneys are often hired to help a non-custodial parent reduce or eliminate support payments. They can also assist a custodial parent in seeking a higher support level or in dealing with a non-custodial parent who is refusing to make court ordered payments. Hiring a child support lawyer to help collect past due payments makes sense when the amount owed is fairly high and the money recovered can defray the related legal fees. In some cases, a child who has reached majority can sue a parent to collect unpaid child support. Some young adults attempt to collect the support they are owed so they can pay for expenses such as college. Each state has a statute of limitations governing how long a person can wait to seek back child support. An experienced child support lawyer can be especially helpful in these situations since a successful outcome can depend on how and when this type of suit is filed.