Child Custody Modifications in Suffolk County
Do you need to modify a child custody order?
The terms of your child custody agreement may not accurately reflect you or your child's needs or wishes. Due to the sometimes precarious relationship between two parents when going through a divorce, the terms reached in regards to their child's custody may not be ideal.
One parent may have been awarded physical and legal custody of the child but can now no longer fulfill that position in the child's life. In these types of situations it is necessary to modify the terms of your child custody agreement. Whatever the reason may be, if you would like a child custody modification it is important to hire a qualified and responsible Suffolk County child custody modification attorney.
What Is Considered a Change in Circumstances?
If one or more of the parties involved in a custody order experience a "substantial change in circumstances," they may file a modification case with the court.
Common occurrences that the court may consider a substantial change in circumstances include:
- The parent responsible for paying or receiving child support makes considerably less money than they did when the order was issued or are unemployed;
- The parent responsible for paying or receiving child support makes considerably more money than they did when the order was issued;
- A parent begins to abuse alcohol or another illegal substance;
- A parent fails to maintain a safe home environment for the child;
- A parent develops a serious mental or physical medical condition that prevents them from caring for the child;
- A parent engages in cruel behavior, like child abuse or neglect, that makes them unfit to act as a caregiver;
- A parent wants to move to a different location with the child;
- A parent engages in a new relationship that negatively affects the child;
- A parent fails to comply with the existing custody order.
If you want to file a modification case for any of the above reasons, you should speak with one of our child custody lawyers before proceeding with your case. A custody attorney can help you gather evidence that supports your argument for adjusting the order. They can also help you fight for your parental rights and your child's best interests in the courtroom, increasing your chances of receiving a positive outcome in your case.
Suffolk County Child Custody Attorney
Over time, the original terms of your child custody agreement may no longer agree with you or your former spouse's living situation. A former spouse may do something that proves they are no longer capable of taking care of your child or they may be making poor decisions in regards to your child's upbringing. Your relationship with your former spouse may also improve to the point where you are considering sharing custody of your child. Modifying a child custody agreement requires great skill and an unshakeable knowledge of divorce law.
At the office of Kuhn & Sandler, PLLC, we understand the complicated circumstances surrounding a divorce. We have over 30 years of combined experience handling all kinds of child custody modification cases. Our clients can rest assured that they are in capable hands.
We will apply the knowledge and skills we have gained over our years in practice to help you modify the terms of your child custody agreement to accurately reflect the reality of the situation. We believe that a child's well-being should come first. We will do everything in our power to help protect your child's future.
Contact a Suffolk County child custody modification attorney if you would like to renegotiate the terms of your child custody agreement.