Tampa Divorce Modification Attorney
No matter how comprehensive and thorough your divorce agreement is, you will likely have to make modifications to it at some point. This is particularly true for people who have children with their former spouse. As children grow, their needs change and they become involved in more activities. Incomes can also fluctuate, making it difficult for a person to pay support. These are just two scenarios that may require a divorce modification. Below, our Tampa divorce modification attorney explains more.
Modifying Child Support Orders
To modify a child support order, you must prove to the court that your circumstances have significantly changed. You must also show that the change is material, involuntary, permanent, and unforeseen. Some common reasons to modify child support orders are as follows:
- Reduced income
- Health issues for either a parent or the child
- Promotion for the recipient
- Other children to support
- Increased income for the payer
Modifying Time-Sharing and Parental Responsibility
Modifications are very common for parents who have children together and then get a divorce. As children get older, they become more active and might take lessons, play sports, or have other extracurricular activities that require a change in the timesharing schedule. The law in Florida focuses on the fact that it is in the child’s best interests to spend an approximately equal amount of time with each parent. If one parent relocates or changes jobs, that may also require a modification of the timesharing schedule.
Families can agree to changes in the schedule on their own, but the newly revised plan must still be approved by the court. As with any type of modification, it is critical that no changes are made before they are approved by the court. Making changes on your own without court approval can have serious consequences, including being charged with contempt of court.
Modifying Alimony
Also known as spousal support, alimony is meant to allow one party in a divorce financially support themselves during and after a divorce. As with any divorce modification, you must show that there has been a substantial change in circumstances that prevents you from paying the amount originally ordered, or that has caused you to require more support. To obtain a modification, it must be shown that there is a substantial change in the need of either spouse or a substantial increase in the payor’s ability to pay. A voluntary job loss or expenses from a subsequent marriage are not enough to warrant a modification.
Our Divorce Modification Attorney in Tampa Can Help You Through the Process
It is said that the only constant in life is change, and that holds true for divorce orders, as well. While it is possible to modify divorce orders, the process is complex and there are no guarantees of success. At Florida Law Advisers, P.A., our Tampa divorce modification attorney has the necessary experience to guide you through the process and give you the best chance of a favorable outcome. Call us today at 1 (800) 990-7763 or fill out our online form to request a consultation and to get the legal help you need.
