With these hard economic times, many divorcing couples in Washington have faced the financial strain that divorce can pose. Divorce settlement agreements typically consider a couple's financial outlook at a single point in time.

When things change financially, it can make child support and alimony payments difficult, if not impossible. In such circumstances, either because of a loss of a job or a reduction in pay or hours, parents may no longer be able to meet their financial responsibilities with respect to child support and spousal support payment that they are obligated to pay.

If such is the case, it is necessary to file for a modification of a divorce settlement agreement and to present the facts of your circumstances to a family court judge, as opposed to simply paying less than what is obligated under the divorce decree. Doing so may result in financial penalties and interest, and in many cases will not be looked favorably upon by the court system.

NFL legend Warren Sapp was ordered to pay $15,000 per month for the care and support of his two children when he and his wife divorced in 2007. In addition, under their divorce settlement agreement, he was ordered to pay $45,000 per month in spousal support.

Though initially he did make these payments, for the past two years his payments have been sporadic and the amounts random. According to a motion filed by his ex-wife, he currently owes more than $700,000 in back child support and alimony.

In his defense, he says he cannot afford these expensive payments. He is requesting that the amount he must pay for child and spousal support be modified to more accurately reflect his financial circumstances.

Whether he will be able to modify his obligations, or whether he will have to make the required payments including the amounts he already owes will be the subject before the court in the coming months.

Source: tmz, "WARREN SAPP Behind $728,100 in Alimony and Child Support," Feb. 6, 2012