During a divorce, courts will issue child custody orders. They will divide up legal custody so that parents know who can make decisions for their child, and they will also divide physical custody so that parents know who the child will live with and who will be responsible for them.
Naturally, over time, these orders can become outdated. Someone may get divorced when their child is three years old, for example. By the time that child turns 15, life looks much different. The child’s needs may have shifted, and the parents may have gone through all sorts of changes in their personal lives. Is it possible to alter the original child custody arrangement?
The child’s best interests
Yes, modifications certainly can be made. Often, the court focuses on the child’s best interests. They will also consider significant changes in the parents’ lives.
For instance, say that a parent gets a new job. It will pay them more, which will improve the child’s standard of living. This is in the child’s best interests, but the job comes with much different work hours, so a new custody schedule is necessary. The court may approve the modification because it will allow the parent to take the new job and give them a new child custody schedule that fits their current stage in life.
This is just one example of how things can change. Alterations can also be made when parents get remarried, when children change schools, if there are significant changes to the child’s life or needs—such as the onset of an illness or a disability—and for a variety of other reasons. If you find yourself in this position, just be sure you know what legal steps to take to make the modification without violating the custody order.
