When there has been a material change in the circumstances of the child or a party, it may be time to consider filing for a modification. The most common types of petitions to modify seek changes in custody, geographic restriction, and/or child support.
Custody changes occur most frequently when a child reaches age 12 and would prefer to live with the other parent and/or when a parent has begun acting in ways that are dangerous and/or disruptive to the child.
Sometimes, the parent with the exclusive right to designate the child’s primary residence wants to eliminate or expand the current geographic restriction because of work opportunities elsewhere or a need for additional familial support.
Additionally, if it has been over 3 years and you would be entitled to more than a 20% or $100 increase in child support, you can ask the Court to increase child support. Similarly, if there has been a change in one’s job circumstances—either for the better or the worse—a modification may be appropriate, depending on the facts, to either increase or decrease support.
