Do You Need a Post-Decree Modification? We Can Help

Financial circumstances change, even after the court has issued a divorce decree. Some parents lose a job, or otherwise experience a loss of income, others get raises or even periodic bonuses. Sometimes, one of the former spouses remarries. All of these events may require the recalculation of child support and maintenance.

Although, property and debt divisions cannot be modified except in cases of fraud., matters concerning children can be modified as circumstances change (and with maturing children, they almost always change in some manner) and maintenance (spousal support or alimony) may change if the financial circumstances of either party changes significantly after the decree.

Modifications to Parental Responsibilities

For a variety of reasons, a parent may seek a modification of decision-making, primary residency or parenting time sometime after the entry of the original divorce decree and court orders. This may be due to changing life styles, a parent-child conflicts, special educational needs. To change a child’s primary residency or the terms of the decision-making authority, the parent must show that the other parent has agreed to the change or that the child’s current circumstances endanger his/her physical health or emotional development and that the presumed hardship of changing the child’s residency or decision-maker, is outweighed by the advantage of a change for the child. Without the other parent’s consent, these are high hurdles to prove, but may be appropriate under the circumstances for a particular child.

The modification of parenting time, particularly to increase the non-residential parent’s time with the child toward a more even division of time between households is far easier to establish, provided regard is given to the child’s academics, activities and peer interactions. To lessen the non-residential parent’s time, one must meet the endangerment/impairment standard for a change in residence.

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Modifications to Maintenance

A modification of maintenance (spousal support or alimony) requires showing that there has been a change of circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make the original determination of the amount and duration of maintenance unfair. The Court can modify the amount or duration of spousal support to increase, decrease or terminate maintenance completely from the date of filing for modification.

Should a Motion for Modification be brought by one party or the other, the same kinds of financial disclosure required for entry of the decree is required to update the parties’ respective financial circumstances. Thereafter, if a substantial and continuing change of circumstances has been shown, the parties and the Court will consider the same factors as those utilized to set the support order initially.

Modifications to Child Support

As with a modification of spousal maintenance, a modification of child support requires showing that there has been a material change of circumstances that is substantial and continuing so as to make the original order inappropriate or that the original order did not provide for medical insurance or expenses of the child. If, after the first year the original decree issued by the court the parents’ incomes have changed enough to make a 15% change in the total child support calculation, it is presumed that child support should be modified. Prior to the one year period, the percentage is 25%.

In addition to increases in parental income as a basis for modification, extraordinary expenses, medical needs, increased cost of health insurance and a variety of other facts can lead to an adjustment in the child support amount.

We will help you petition the court for post-decree modifications

Call us at 502-257-0070 or send an email. We serve clients throughout the greater Louisville area, including La Grange.