Modification
People’s circumstances and needs change over time. It’s possible that a divorce decree or child custody arrangement that was once totally appropriate for your family has become unworkable or unfair. At Wilhite & Lea, P.C., we are willing to listen to you and help you make the changes you need to make to protect your family into the future.
Houston Modification Attorneys
Our Texas Family Law Attorneys understand that sometimes change is inevitable. We are here to help you in those circumstances. Our attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable about all facets of divorce and family law, and we’re here to ensure that your divorce decree or child custody arrangement remains fair and manageable for you.
Modification Information Center
Modifications to divorce decrees can include a number of different changes. A few possible modifications to this decree include:
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Child Support Modification
After some time, it is possible that there could be some significant change to your ability to financially support your child. you could lose the ability to work, be deployed in the military, or be laid off from work and have to find employment elsewhere. In any of these case, modifying the child support agreement is the best thing to do. It is important to remember, however, that child support is not a punishment or means of getting revenge on the person paying, but is instead a legitimate concern for the well-being and best interests of the child. Providing this support is part of your obligation to your child as their parent.
Modifying the child support agreement is definitely the best course of action should you find yourself unable to make the payments consistently. The alternative is enforcement of the child support agreement which could result in punitive damages and further legal action.
Read more on the modification of child support order
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Child Custody Modifications
Child custody battles can be emotionally troubling for all involved, but it is particularly so for the children. For a child to watch his or her parents go through such an unpleasant process puts undue strain and stress on the child, and going through that process a second time could be particularly damaging to them. With that in mind, it is sometimes necessary to modify the conditions set forth in the custody agreement. Financial and emotional situations can change, and the environment of the child can become vastly different from what it was at the time of the initial case.
It is always important to consider why you want to modify your custody arrangements. Doing it to get revenge on your ex-spouse is not a viable jusification for a custody modification, and will probably cause more problems than it could solve. However, there are plenty of valid reasons to consider modifying a custody agreement, including a change in financial resources, better educational opportunities for the child, serious illness or injury of a child or parent, or the preferences of the child or parent.
The modification of the conditions in the custody agreement should always be the first choice over the enforcement of the custody agreement. Changing the rules is a better situation than having to enforce them when someone is out of compliance.
Read more about custody agreement modifications
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Visitation Modifications
Being able to see your children is a right that every parent has. The highlight of a child's day could be visitation with their non-custodial parent, and these parents depend on the quality time they spend with their child. Great care should be taken when approaching the modification of the visitation agreement to prevent more damage to the child involved. The modification of the child-parent visitation agreement should never be enacted in order to punish the other parent or the child involved.
Visitation modification is sometimes necessary, however, and there are a number of reasons that it could be a viable choice for a family. Our Houston family law attorneys can explain the details of a visitation modification in a free consultation.
More information about modifying visitation agreements
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Resources:
Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Website – Resources regarding Child Support Enforcement and Custody Arrangements
How to Be Civil with Your Ex – Tips on avoiding conflict for the sake of your children
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Wilhite & Lea, P.C. | Texas Modification Lawyers
The attorneys at Wilhite & Lea are here to discuss your options for modifying your child support order, custody arrangement or visitation schedule. We will help you find solutions that are right for your family. If you are in Houston and Harris County, including: Spring, Cypress, Klein, Humble, Tomball, the FM 1960 area, North Houston; and Montgomery County, including: Conroe and The Woodlands; as well as the surrounding counties of Fort Bend, Grimes, Waller, and Washington, contact us today to speak directly with one of our attorneys about your case.