At some point after your divorce has been finalized, you may need to petition the court to modify the original agreement. Common reasons for modifications include remarriage, a move, or changes in income. If you are seeking to make a change, an experienced Prince William County divorce modifications lawyer will help you through the process.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we are ready to use our 30-plus years of experience to fight for you. Our Prince William County divorce lawyers will use every resource at our disposal to secure a favorable outcome. Contact us to schedule your free case review with one of our Client Services Coordinators today.
How to Request a Modification to Your Divorce Order
There are a lot of things that must be considered when attempting to modify the terms of a divorce order. Attempting to handle this complex system by yourself can be challenging, which is why it’s always advisable to secure the services of an experienced Prince William County family lawyer when seeking a modification.
The first thing your attorney will do in your case will be to file a modification petition with the court, following the guidelines outlined in VA Code § 20-108. Filing a modification petition will put the legal process in motion.
After you file, your former spouse will be notified and will be given the opportunity to submit a response to your petition.
The process for modifying the terms of your divorce may include:
- Discovery: The process of sharing relevant information about a case between the two parties
- Motions: Both parties may choose to file legal motions regarding certain aspects of the case
- Negotiation: Working to reach an agreement with your former spouse regarding modifications to your divorce agreement or order outside the courtroom
- Trial: For cases that can not be settled out of court, the two sides will present their arguments in the courtroom
An experienced divorce modifications attorney serving Prince William County can help you through every step of the modification process.
Schedule your free meeting with our team today to see if our Divorce Modifications Lawyers can help you.
What to Do When Your Ex-Spouse Is the One Seeking a Modification
Of course, you might not be the one seeking to modify the terms of your divorce. If your former spouse is the one looking to modify your divorce agreement or order, you will still need to hire an experienced divorce modifications lawyer serving Prince William County.
Your attorney can help ensure your interests are represented through the process. Even if you agree with your ex-spouse that a modification is needed, you will likely have a different view of what the outcome of that modification should look like.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we will fight to ensure your rights are protected throughout the modification process and that any order for a change is fair and in line with all applicable regulations.
Prince William County Divorce Modifications Lawyer Near Me 800-479-8124
Common Changes You Can Seek With the Help of a Divorce Modifications Attorney Serving Prince William County
Any substantial changes to your life or the lives of your ex-spouse or children can result in a need to modify the terms of your divorce order or agreement. Some of the areas of a divorce that people most frequently seek to modify include:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Spousal support
Child Custody and Visitation Modifications
Many life changes could prompt you or your ex-spouse to seek a child custody modification, including:
- Changes to living conditions: If either you or your ex-spouse move to a new residence, a modification may be in order. The judge handling your case will consider a modification petition if the living conditions presented by the new domicile and surrounding neighborhood differ drastically from what your child experienced previously.
- Remarriage or another change to the household: Remarriage or cohabitation with a new party by the custodial parent can lead a judge to consider a custody modification if they deem the new party to present a risk to the safety, health, and overall well-being of your child.
- Changes in work schedules: Either party may also seek a modification to the custody order or agreement if there are significant changes to either spouse’s work schedule.
- Job relocation: A joint custody arrangement may no longer work if one parent has to move to a new city for work. The process for dealing with a change related to job relocation is different from standard modification cases.
Child Support Modifications
You or your former spouse may seek to modify the terms of your child support agreement if either party undergoes any significant financial changes. For instance, if the party making child support payments loses their job, the payment amount may be temporarily reduced. Alternatively, a significant increase in income can lead to a bump in support payments.
Another reason to modify child support is if your children’s financial needs significantly change. Health problems are one of the most common changes children face regarding their financial needs. However, any additional cost related to raising your child can lead to the custodial parent seeking an increase in payments.
If your child custody order or agreement is modified, a change to your child support payments will almost certainly be in order. For example, if the parent who was paying child support now has primary physical custody, the parent who previously had primary custody will now be responsible for making support payments.
Spousal Support Modifications
Most modifications to a Virginia spousal support order or agreement are made after a significant change to the household income of either party. In cases where the party receiving spousal support remarries, it is not uncommon for a judge to terminate spousal support payments outright.
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Reach Out to an Experienced Divorce Modifications Lawyer in Prince William County Today
When you or your former spouse are looking to modify the terms of your divorce order or agreement, the best thing you can do to protect your interests is to hire an experienced divorce modifications attorney in Prince William County.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we have spent the last decade helping clients through every aspect of the divorce modifications process.
Contact us by phone or through our website to schedule your free case consultation today. You can learn more about the service you can expect by reading our client testimonials.
Schedule a call with one of our client services coordinators today.
