Modifications to Divorce Orders

Do You Need a Bowling Green Family Lawyer?

When you go through a divorce, there are certain terms that are listed in the divorce order that you and your spouse must both agree on. This agreement is a legal document that stipulates what a couple must do after their divorce, including paying a certain amount of child support or spousal support, or the terms of child custody.

The court does understand that the conditions in your life can change suddenly or over time. There are a number of different circumstances that may allow you to modify your divorce order, such as the loss of a job, a major change in income, a serious change in a relationship, or an opportunity to move to another state and relocate for work or personal reasons.

Modification of a court order may be necessary for:

• Visitation rights,
• Child custody,
• Child support, or
• Spousal support.

While changes in your financial and childcare needs after a divorce are inevitable, there is plenty you must prove to the court before it will modify your divorce orders. Below is a review of the standards you must meet to make changes. Bowling Green divorce modification lawyer Pamela C. Bratcher has more than 30 years of experience, so she has seen what changes family law cases can involve and knows how to obtain the legal relief her clients deserve. 

Changing Custody Orders

If you need to adjust the terms of your child custody order, you have to convince the court that the adjustment is in the best interests of your child. To make this determination, the court typically looks at the following: 

• Your child’s wishes;
• The interrelationship and interaction of your child and their parents, siblings, or other significant person in their life;
• Whether the party who has custody agrees to the modification;
• Whether your child’s present environment seriously endangers their health;
• Your child’s proximity and adjustment to their school, home, and community;
• The wishes of the parents and any de facto custody;
• Whether there are findings of domestic abuse in your child’s environment; 
• Whether each party would allow continuing, frequent, and meaningful contact between your child and the other parent or a de facto custodian; 
• Whether your child is with a de facto custodian;
• The circumstances and motivation behind leaving your child with a de facto custodian;
• The extent of care, support, and nurturing a de facto custodian has provided to your child;
• The health of everyone involved;
• The motivations of the parties who are participating in the proceeding; 
• The likelihood of harm to your child if there is a change, and whether the harm outweighs the advantages of the change; and
• Whether your child has been integrated into the filing party’s family with the custodian’s consent. 

You may need to seek the opinions of professionals and present medical and school records to the court to state your case. We can help you collect the best and most persuasive evidence to win a favorable modification of your divorce decree regarding custody matters.

Changing Child Support Orders

When there is a continuing, substantial, and material change in your circumstances or the other parent’s circumstances, you can seek a modification of child support orders. In many cases, a change in income, custody arrangements, or childcare needs could warrant divorce modifications for child support. 

A material change typically means calculating a parent’s potential child support obligation using the state’s child support guidelines which shows a 15% or greater change. But even if calculations show that potential child support obligations have changed by less than 15%, you may still be entitled to a modification, and our divorce modification lawyer can champion your rights. 

Changing Asset Distribution or Spousal Maintenance

No matter who you are, your financial situation can change rapidly. Fortunately, you can seek a modification to the support orders or terms of property distribution in your divorce decree. To change a property distribution order, you must prove that your situation justifies reopening the judgment. And when you want to modify a maintenance order, you must prove that there are changed circumstances that are so substantial and continuing that the maintenance terms of the original decree are unconscionable. 

Our Bowling Green divorce modifications attorney receives top ratings from her clients and has the skill and knowledge to ensure your divorce decree accurately reflects your needs at every stage of life. 

Protecting Your Rights & Best Interest

At the Law Office of Pamela C. Bratcher, we know that when life changes, it can affect your ability to stick to your agreement. When this happens, it is very important that you hire a Bowling Green family lawyer to represent you. You cannot simply violate the existing agreement, even if you believe that it is the right thing to do. It is necessary that you take the legal steps to make a change in your divorce agreement so that it shows your current circumstances.

Our firm has over 30 years of experience practicing in the field, and we can help you to get through the modification process smoothly. Throughout the time we have been in practice, we have earned a reputation in the community for our high standards, integrity, and dedication to individualized and compassionate legal representation.We truly care about each and every one of our clients and understand that this is more than just a case. Contact us now at (270) 714-3026 or online for a case consultation.