After a divorce or legal separation, court orders provide specific instructions
for things like child custody, child support, and alimony. These court-ordered
agreements are legally binding and are created to help families navigate
challenging, and often contentious, issues. However, there often comes
a time when theses court orders need to be modified to better suit your
situation.
Court order modifications aren’t available to anyone unhappy with
their parenting plan. New York courts will only grant family law modifications
when there is just cause for a serious legal change.
Modifications are only granted to families who have undergone a serious
change in circumstances, such as:
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Employment changes: If either parent experiences a drastic change in income, such as a job
loss or drastic pay decrease, the court will consider this a change in
circumstances. For example, if the paying spouse lost his job, he may
be asked to pay less in alimony or child support.
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Remarriage: When a parent remarries, their circumstances will inevitably change. As
a result, the court may grant a modification to their existing child support
and child custody orders. Also, according to state law, alimony payments
stop once the receiving spouse remarries.
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The child’s needs have changed: The central goal of the court is to satisfy the needs of the child. So,
if their medical, emotional, or physical needs have changed, the court
will find a modification to suit the child’s needs.
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Relocation: If either parent plans to relocate, it may also affect the living situation
of the child or it could change the child’s financial needs. In
such a situation, either parent may request a modification to their existing
child custody or child support order. However, relocation does not always
affect spousal support payments.
Let Our Firm Help You
Are you ready to seek a child custody, child support, or spousal support
modification? In order to seek a modification you require a skilled, knowledgeable
attorney by your side. Our family lawyer has more than 10 years of experience
working with families in New York, and he can help you find a solution
to even the most complex family law issues.
Ready to get started?
Contact The Law Firm of Wayne F. Crowe, Jr., P.C. in Yonkers to discuss your family law modification case.