After a divorce, moving, remarrying, or changes in income may require updates to your divorce Order. At Melone Hatley, P.C., we specialize in helping you make these necessary adjustments. Our team provides professional support to modify your divorce terms, ensuring they align with your current needs and protect your rights.
We start with a free consultation to understand your situation and goals. A Client Services Coordinator will then connect you with one of our experienced Chesterfield County divorce modifications lawyers. Our goal is to work closely with you, offering you the guidance and support needed to achieve a positive resolution.
Contact our experienced team of Chesterfield County divorce lawyers today for more information on how we can assist you with your divorce modification needs.
How to Modify the Terms of Your Divorce Order or Settlement
Modifying the terms of a divorce agreement or order involves a lot of moving parts and can be very complicated. To ensure a successful outcome, it’s advisable to seek the expertise of a Chesterfield County family lawyer experienced in divorce modifications.
Your lawyer will start by preparing and filing a modification petition with the court, adhering to the guidelines set forth in VA. Code Section 20-108. This step initiates the legal process and notifies your former spouse, who will then have the opportunity to respond to your petition.
The process to modify your divorce terms may include:
- Discovery: Gathering and exchanging relevant information between parties.
- Motions: Filing and responding to legal motions related to your case.
- Negotiation: Attempting to reach an agreement on the modifications outside of court.
- Trial: If an agreement can’t be reached, your case may proceed to trial, where your attorney will present your case.
An experienced divorce modifications attorney in Chesterfield County will guide you through each step, from filing the initial petition to representing you in court if necessary.
When Your Ex-Spouse Is the One Looking to Modify the Terms of Your Divorce
Of course, you may find yourself in a position where your former spouse is the one looking to modify the terms of your divorce. In this situation, it is still essential to secure the services of an experienced divorce modification lawyer in Chesterfield County to help ensure your interests are represented throughout the process.
Even if you and your former spouse agree that a modification is necessary, you will likely not agree on the new terms.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we will protect your rights during the modification process and ensure that any modification order is drafted fairly.
Schedule your free meeting with our team today to see if our Divorce Modifications Lawyers can help you.
Common Changes a Divorce Modifications Attorney Can Help You Make
Any significant change in your life or the lives of your children or former spouse can create a need to modify the terms of your original divorce agreement or order. Some of the most common divorce modifications people seek to make include:
Child Custody and Visitation Modifications
Many things could prompt you or your ex-spouse to seek a modification to your child custody and visitation arrangement. The most common reasons for modifying custody include:
- Changes in living conditions: If you or your former spouse change your residence, it may necessitate a change to your custody and visitation arrangement. The judge presiding over your case will consider a modification if the conditions of the new home and surrounding neighborhood are drastically different from those your child was exposed to in the previous domicile.
- Remarriage or other changes to the household: If the custodial parent remarries or cohabitates with someone new, a judge may consider altering the terms of your custody agreement or order. The odds of a judge approving a modification in this case will be more significant if the new member of the household poses a potential risk to your children’s health, safety, or overall well-being.
- Changes in work schedules: You or your former spouse may also seek to modify your custody agreement or order if either of your work schedules changes dramatically.
- Job relocation: If either parent needs to relocate for work, a joint custody arrangement may no longer be an option. Relocation is treated as a special case and is handled differently from standard divorce modification cases.
Child Support Modifications
Significant financial changes can be a reason to seek a modification to child support payments. When the parent who has been making child support payments loses their job, the payment amount may be reduced temporarily. Alternatively, a substantial increase in income can increase child support.
Additionally, substantial changes to the financial needs of your children can be a reason to seek a modification. For example, if your child develops special needs for education, care, or health, the custodial parent could seek higher payments to cover the associated increase in expenses.
Of course, any modifications to your child custody agreement or order will also affect your child support payments. For example, if primary custody is transferred from one parent to the other, child support payments will shift as well. That means the parent who had primary custody and was receiving child support payments will now need to pay child support to the other parent.
Spousal Support Modifications
Modifications to spousal support payments are usually made when either party’s household income substantially changes. If the party receiving spousal support gets remarried, the judge presiding over your case may terminate spousal support payments altogether.
Chesterfield County Divorce Modifications Lawyer Near Me
Get Help from an Experienced Divorce Modifications Lawyer Serving Chesterfield County Today
If you or your former spouse are attempting to modify the terms of your divorce settlement or order, securing the services of an experienced divorce modifications attorney serving Chesterfield County is the best way to increase your chances of getting the results you desire.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we have been helping clients with modification cases for over a decade. Contact us through our website or by phone to set up a free case review with a member of our team.
Schedule a call with one of our client services coordinators today.
