After a year of financial troubles, former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Terrell Owens may be on the mend. The38-year-old recently signed for a season with an Indoor Football League team, and he was able to reduce his child support payments.

Owens has been in family court more than once in the past few months for failing to make support payments to the mothers of his four children. He was not picked up by the NFL last season, and some business deals didn't go his way (lawsuits are moving forward). His new job will not pay him nearly what he was earning in the NFL.

As his $80 million fortune dwindled, his child support payments remained the same: a reported total of $44,600 every month. Three of the four mothers took Owens to court when he paid less than the full amount in June and July of last year. He paid up, but he maintained that the payments were too much.

A judge recently agreed to a reduction in the support payments. Sources say the new order is sealed, but the order "accurately reflects" the player's current income. Owens was also successful in changing visitation arrangements -- apparently, he had never asked for the modification before.

Owens has never been married to any of the mothers of his children. He told GQ that they were casual relationships; one was a one-night stand.

The story is a good example of the rights of both custodial and noncustodial parents. The mothers have a right to the child support Owens agreed to. Owens has the right to petition the court to adjust the payments if he cannot afford them.

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