When things change in your personal life, will your divorce settlement still fit your needs?
Although the arrangements in your divorce decree may have been reasonable at the time they were made, people’s lives change as time goes by. Ex-spouses relocate, change employment, become more or less able to spend time with or support their children. Therefore, revisions may need to be made such as visitation agreements, child custody arrangements and child support. These items may no longer be equitable or fair as time progresses.
In addition, the lagging economy has had an extreme effect on people’s ability to pay their child support and alimony obligations. Either party may have lost their jobs or have taken serious reductions in pay. These circumstances may justify a downward adjustment of child support or alimony obligations. In addition, a change in working hours might support a modification of a visitation schedule.
How do you know if your situation warrants a modification? In order to establish a right to modification of a court order, court-approved agreement, or a consent order between the parties, it will first be necessary to show that the change is both substantial and material. In other words, the difference between the present arrangement and that proposed should be large enough to satisfy legal standards and justify the time and expense involved in seeking the modification. To make sure your position is presented effectively, contact the attorneys at Simeone & O’Sullivan.
Our firm’s post-divorce modification and enforcement services include, but are not limited to:
- Contempt
- Increasing or Lowering Child Support
- Changing Child Custody
- Changes to Visitation Agreements
- Revisiting Spousal Support and Alimony
With many years of experience, we can help you choose your battles wisely. For dependable advice about the pros and cons of a modification in your case, contact Simeone & O’Sullivan at (973) 455-1105.
