Modifications Lawyers in Waco, TX
Make Changes to Child Custody, Child Support, or Alimony
Even though the law or the terms of your divorce agreement may seem strict, allowances have to be made for the fact that circumstances change. Sometimes individuals are not able to upkeep previous court orders concerning child support, spousal support, or child custody.
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t give up hope. With help from the team at Blanchard & Thomas, you can work to better match your responsibilities and legal obligations to your new circumstances. We are backed by years of experience and prioritize your needs above all else.
Contact us at (866) 251-0624 to learn more about the firm and about your case.
Modification of Child Support in Texas
Texas Family Code chapter 156.401 outlines the legal standards for modifying child support.
In general, at least one of the following must be proven to modify support:
- That the child’s or conservator’s circumstances have undergone substantial change
- That three years have passed since the last support order and that the new support order would be different from the last one by at least $100 or 20%
Substantial change is not defined in this section of the code and therefore the court has to determine whether the change was significant enough.
Modification of Alimony in Texas
Similar to the modification of child support, modification of alimony involves establishing that your circumstances have undergone a substantial change and that you are unable to maintain the same level of support. It is important to note that if you are the one receiving support, you cannot increase the amount of alimony you receive if your circumstances change.
Modifying Child Custody
Modification of child custody can be complex, especially because the court typically wishes to have children remain in a stable environment for as long as possible. If custody changes too often, it can have a negative impact on the children involved. However, the order is not entirely set in stone and there are circumstances in which custody can be modified.
The parent who wishes to modify custody must prove the following:
- The child is 12 years old and wants to change who has primary custody
- There has been a substantial and material change of circumstances
- The custody change is in the child’s best interest
If the child doesn’t wish to change who has primary custody or is under 12 years old, it must be proven that substantial changes have affected the situation in a way that would impact the best interests of the child.
Examples of material and substantial change would include:
- Either parent undergoing a change in marital status
- Unemployment
- Relocation due to a job
- Medical conditions
- Parental abuse or neglect
- Substance abuse
Speak with an Experienced Waco Modifications Attorney Today
Whatever circumstances you face, our firm can provide you with the legal guidance you need. We focus on building relationships with our clients that are founded on total honesty and mutual respect. When it comes to family law issues, tensions can be high and we seek to relieve you of some of the burdens you carry and work to achieve a positive outcome.
Contact us to speak with a skilled Waco divorce lawyer about your needs.
The Blanchard & Thomas “Clients’ Bill of Rights”
We Want to Earn the Right to Be Your Attorneys From Now on,-
We serve at the clients’ pleasure. If for any reason whatsoever the client decides he/she is better off with a different attorney or law firm, we will respectfully and professionally do whatever we can to get the new attorney or law firm up to speed and ready to handle the case. We vow to never object to a client’s request to seek alternative counsel, and we promise to return 100% of any unearned advance payments.
-
We play to win. While we cannot guarantee outcomes in any case, we always do our best to see that our clients come out on top. We want our clients to know without question that their success matters to us more than their payments.
-
We play hard, we play fast, and we stick to the game plan. We work with every client to develop a strategy most likely to bring about their success. We work hard to ensure the strategy gives our client every advantage possible and their very best chance at success. We then implement that strategy as quickly and efficiently as possible.
-
We make a commitment to communication. We begin and end many of our days communicating with clients. Our clients can count on us to return phone calls and/or e-mail within 24 hours except in emergencies or during announced absences from the office. We want our clients to always know what we know and vice-versa, and overcome them.
-
While the attorney client relationship may not always result in friendship, we believe it should always result in mutual respect. We zealously advocate on our clients’ behalf whether we agree with their choices or not. We do not judge our client’s choices; we simply attempt to help them learn from them, live with them, and overcome them.
-
We build our relationships upon a foundation of total honesty. Absolute honesty allows the client and the attorney to develop trust that will be absolutely critical to success in and out of the courtroom.