Life doesn’t stand still after a divorce, and sometimes the terms of your divorce decree need to change too. If you’ve experienced a significant change in your circumstances, a Salt Lake City divorce decree modification lawyer can help you request updates to your existing court order so it better reflects your current situation and your family’s needs.
At Brown Family Law, we exclusively focus on helping families resolve legal matters. Our team has 150 years of combined legal experience helping families like yours. Our divorce lawyers in Salt Lake City will protect your interests. Call today for a confidential consultation.
Compassionate Divorce Decree Modification Attorneys in Salt Lake City
At Brown Family Law, we take a strategic approach to divorce decree modifications. We understand that these cases often involve ongoing relationships between former spouses, especially when children are involved. We carefully evaluate your situation and work toward a resolution that supports your long-term goals.
Our Salt Lake City family lawyers protect your rights without being unnecessarily combative. Whenever possible, we seek practical solutions that save time, reduce stress, and avoid the expense of prolonged litigation. At the same time, if an agreement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to advocate for you in court.
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What is a Divorce Decree Modification?
A divorce decree modification is a legal process that allows certain terms of a final divorce order to be changed when circumstances have significantly changed since the divorce was finalized. Even if both former spouses agree that changes should be made, they should not rely on informal agreements.
A divorce decree remains legally binding until a judge approves the requested modification and enters a new court order. Without court approval, verbal agreements or private arrangements may not be legally enforceable and can create confusion or disputes later.
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What Parts of a Divorce Decree Can Be Modified?
Utah law allows courts to modify specific parts of a divorce decree when the legal requirements are met. However, not every provision can be changed, and the court will carefully evaluate whether a modification is justified based on the facts of the case.
The following are some of the most common parts of a divorce decree that may be modified:
- Child custody: If there has been a substantial change in circumstances, the court may modify legal custody, physical custody, or both. Any custody modification must serve the child’s best interests, which is the court’s primary consideration.
- Parent-time (visitation): Parenting schedules may need to be adjusted as children grow older or family circumstances change.
- Child support: Child support orders can often be modified when there has been a significant change in either parent’s financial circumstances. Utah courts generally calculate child support according to the state’s child support guidelines while considering the facts of each case.
- Alimony (spousal support): In some situations, alimony may be modified after a divorce. Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, remarriage or cohabitation may also affect an existing alimony obligation.
Whether a modification is appropriate depends on the specific facts of your case and the type of court order involved. Our experienced Salt Lake divorce decree modification attorneys can review your existing decree and determine which provisions may be eligible for modification.
Changing Your Divorce Decree When Your Life Changes
As hard as you may try to make the correct arrangements when you and your spouse divorce, change is an inevitable part of life. There may come a time when you need to request a modification to your divorce decree to accommodate some significant change in your life. Our Salt Lake City divorce decree modification attorneys can petition to modify your divorce decree.
To change a divorce decree in Utah, you must prove a significant change in circumstance that was unforeseeable at the time of the divorce and remains in the child’s best interest. Substantial changes may include:
- The loss of a job
- Getting a job or promotion
- Having another child
- Relocating more than 150 miles away from your former spouse’s residence
- Discovery of child abuse
- Mental illness of a child or parent
- Drug or alcohol abuse by a child or parent
- Criminal charges against or the conviction of a parent
- Chronic denial of visitation by the custodial parent
If you are petitioning for a change in child support or alimony, whether you wish to lower the payment or have the payment increased, you must show a significant enough change in circumstances on your part to warrant this.
Change in Income
If the change in child support is within the first three years of the divorce and your income has decreased or increased more than 30%, you may not have to petition to make the change. Talk with the lawyers of Brown Family Law about your situation.
Relocation
Custody of your children may need to be modified as they get older and their schedules change. If the custodial parent intends to move more than 150 miles away from the noncustodial parent, they must give notice within 60 days of the move, and the noncustodial parent has the right to petition for a hearing as to whether the move is in the children’s best interests.
Salt Lake Child Custody Modification Attorney
Life rarely stays the same after a divorce. Changes in employment, income, health, or family circumstances may make the terms of your divorce decree no longer practical or fair.
At Brown Family Law, we understand that life changes. When that has a significant effect on your duties to your children or to your former spouse, we will focus on finding effective solutions while minimizing unnecessary conflict.
Our experienced divorce decree modification lawyers offer compassionate guidance. Call today to learn more about how we can help.
