Spokane Modification

Both parents are legally obligated to comply with the terms of a child support and child custody court order. However, parents also have the right to ask the court to modify the existing terms of a child support or child custody order.

If you are involved in a modification dispute—regardless of whether you are the party that requested the modification—it’s important to seek legal representation at once. The attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law will fight to ensure the child support and custody orders are in your family’s best interests. Call 360-926-9112 to discuss your case with our team today.

You cannot ask the court to modify your child support or custody order simply because you are unhappy with its terms. Parents can only make this request when they can prove that a modification is warranted due to a significant change in circumstances. For more information on this topic, view our blog post on how to modify child support orders.

Examples of significant changes that could warrant a child custody modification include:

• The custodial parent has let the child live with the non-custodial parent for a long period of time.
• The child is no longer safe living with the custodial parent.
  Either parent has been held in contempt of court multiple times for violating the terms of the agreement.

Examples of significant changes that could warrant a child support modification include:

• Either parent has lost a job.
• Either parent has gotten remarried or divorced.
• The child has special needs that are not addressed in the current child support order.
• Either parent has a significantly higher income due to a promotion or new job.

The court will only approve the request if the modification is in the best interests of the child.

You must submit a petition to modify a parenting plan or child support in order to request a modification. The other party will be notified of your request once this paperwork has been filed.

A hearing will be scheduled shortly after the paperwork has been submitted. During this hearing, the requesting party will need to prove to the judge that the change is warranted. If the other party does not agree with the modification, they may present evidence that the change is not in the child’s best interests. The other party may also argue that the requesting party is not being truthful about their change in circumstances. The judge will rule on the matter after hearing from both sides.

Don’t attend this hearing alone—let an attorney at Pacific Northwest Family Law represent you in your court order modification case. We will aggressively defend your rights and fight to protect your family’s best interests.

Do you need to modify a child support or child custody order?  If so, contact the experienced family attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law as soon as possible. We will always put your family’s needs first. Let us fight to ensure the child support or child custody court order is in your family’s best interests. Schedule a consultation by calling 360-926-9112 or booking your appointment online.