Just because your divorce has been finalized doesn’t mean that your divorce lawyer’s job is over. Even after all the agreements have been signed, they are hardly set in stone. Life changes may occur for you or your ex-spouse, which will require modifications to be made to your alimony, child support, and/or custody agreements. Working with the same divorce lawyer in Upland who drafted the original agreements is often the best way to make modifications quickly, efficiently, and to your benefit. After all, your divorce lawyer in Upland is already intimately familiar with the details of the case as well as with the attitude and tactics of your ex-spouse’s lawyer. They can help you get the modifications you need in the following areas:
Alimony
Your alimony requirements were set at the time of your divorce, based on your income and needs as well as those of your ex-spouse. When either person’s income changes significantly, the alimony agreement should be reviewed. One spouse may no longer require high alimony, or the other may no longer be able to pay it. Either way, the agreement must be modified for the sake of both parties.
Child Support
Child support agreements also often require modification. As the child grows, he or she may require additional support for things like school or medical treatment. These costs should be shared by both parents, and the child support agreement would need to be updated to reflect that. Dramatic income changes can also lead to child support modifications. For example, the spouse paying child support might get laid off or fired, making it impossible for them to continue with the past level of child support. Or, they may receive a substantial bonus or raise, in which case the spouse caring for the child is entitled to ask for an increase in support payments.
Child Custody
The primary goal of child custody arrangements is always to do what is in the best interests of the child, for their physical and emotional well-being. Occasionally circumstances change so much that the current custody arrangement becomes untenable. The child may need to be removed from a dangerous or unfit home, or, in happier circumstances, a parent who was previously deemed unfit for custody may have reformed themselves to such an extent as to now merit some type of shared custody. Either way, your divorce lawyer in Upland can help you make the necessary modifications for the good of your child or children.