The custody order that was put in place when you first divorced might have worked well for your family for many years. But just like children outgrow their clothes and toys, so one day may they outgrow the custody judgment.
Learn more below about the applicable circumstances for modifying a child support order by the court.
Children’s needs change
What toddlers and primary school children need from their parents is far different from what they require as teens or even middle schoolers. Kids join sports teams and other extracurricular activities and have overnights with friends.
Older teens start to date, hang out with friends and might even have part-time jobs that come with commitments to show up as scheduled. All of these possibilities can wreak havoc with an older custody agreement or court judgment.
What is a parent’s best move?
If you and your co-parent have become friends during the years spanning the divorce and now, it might be all right to informally make changes that accommodate the kids’ schedules. But beware that could backfire on you if your co-parent gets angry at you for some reason.
To protect all parties (including your children), it is always better to file a petition with the family law court to modify the child custody agreement that is already in place. This can be done as a consent judgment signed by both parties or one co-parent’s attorney can file the petition to modify the custody order. The family law courts will either sign off on the consent judgment or adjudicate the matter in trial.