Helping You Get the Most from Post Divorce Modifications
Hillsboro, Oregon, Family Law Lawyers
If an unexpected change has put you in a position where you are unable to comply with child support, spousal support or other family law agreements, seeking a modification in court may be your best choice. Working with the experienced attorneys of Peterson & Peterson Attorneys, L.L.P. will help you understand your options and whether it is worth pursuing modification in your current situation.
Their Hillsboro, Oregon, firm has spent many years providing clients with the sound legal advice and personal attention they need as they seek to do the right thing for their children. To discuss your current situation with a knowledgeable lawyer in your area, contact Peterson & Peterson today.
What Is Eligible for Post Divorce Modification?
A variety of family law agreements are eligible to be modified after a divorce. The attorneys at Peterson & Peterson can help you explore your options for modifying judgments and orders involving child custody, parenting time, child support and spousal support.
In order to have a previous judgment modified, you must be able to document a significant and unanticipated change in your situation. Support based modifications are frequently based on, unemployment or a significant reduction in income through loss of overtime, bonuses, commissions, or less available working hours, and sometimes a change in the other parties' financial situation. Other changes that warrant child support modification include a change in day care costs, a change in health insurance premiums, a change of custody, a significant change in parenting time, and additional non-joint children.
Child custody and parenting time provisions of judgments can be modified. Custody modifications are normally reserved for very large problems that develop with the custodial parent and the children. Parents often work out small changes to the parenting plan schedule between one another without court or attorney involvement. Parents are always encouraged to solve their own custody and parenting time disagreements, but sometimes need to rely on the courtroom. Modifications of custody and parenting time are very sensitive and fact specific and are best explored personally with your attorney before any action is taken.
Proceed With Caution
Far too many people rush into the modification process, looking to have a judgment changed out of spite, or to modify the judgment due to a minor inconvenience. Whether the issue is support modification or custody or parenting time modification, careful attention to detail is given to assess the strengths, weaknesses and relative risk of each client's desired course of action.
If the judge decides that you do not have a compelling reason for modification, you will have invested significant time and money to a losing cause. Good legal advice in a modification case starts with deciding whether it is a case that should be filed in the first place. We do not advise our clients to spend ten dollars to save five.
To discuss your modification options with an experienced post divorce modification attorney, call toll free at 888-834-8935 today.
