CHANGING EXISTING ORDERS OR AGREEMENTS

Orders for child support, spousal support, decision making authority (formerly custody) and parenting time (formerly access) are not set in stone, even if they are called “final”.  They were drafted with the family’s present circumstances in mind.  When those circumstances change, child support, spousal support, decision making authority or parenting time may be modified to reflect the family’s new situation.

Separation agreements can also be modified by court orders with respect to decision making authority, parenting time, and child support.  The extent of the parties’ ability to change the spousal support provisions of a separation agreement varies depending on the terms of the agreement.  However, the court always retains some jurisdiction to vary spousal support provisions in some specific circumstances.