Since last summer, we have been periodically updating Georgia readers about the child support woes of former NFL star Terrell Owens. He has four children with four different mothers, at least one of whom lives in Atlanta. Over the summer, she twice filed motions to have him held in contempt of court for missing or late child support payments.

Owens is no longer making the sizeable NFL income that he once was. Therefore, it has become increasingly difficult to afford monthly child support payments reportedly ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 per child. That's why the former wide receiver went to court in November seeking modifications.

The latest news on this front is that Owens was successful in his request to reduce child support payments. The details of the new order will not be publicly released, but a recent Examiner.com article quotes unnamed sources who assure us that the modification, "accurately reflects the amount of money [Terrell] is making."

Along with reduced payments, Owens was also granted visitation rights to some of his children, which he reportedly had not requested in the past.

It is not always easy for the average person to identify with the problems of celebrities. Even celebrity divorces often seem larger than life to most of us. But the problem of struggling to meet child support obligations while unemployed/underemployed is one that many Georgia parents can relate to.

Not every request is granted, but parents who are struggling financially should nonetheless consider seeking child support modifications. A qualified family law attorney may be able to simplify the process and help you understand your options for both child support and child custody/visitation.

Source: Examiner, "Terrell Owens wins big in child support case," Kelly Cozzone, Feb. 6, 2012