Modifications

A divorce becomes final with a court order, but a divorce agreement is never really final. Over time, circumstances change for the better or worse. People’s lives change. With regard to custody arrangements, ex-spouses may move, take on new challenges or become more or less able to spend time with their children. With regard to child support and alimony payments, children grow up, parents may lose jobs, change careers or move across state lines. Divorce agreements are not meant to be written in stone. They can be modified to reflect life changes.

Attorney Jonathan D. Katz has more than 36 years of family law experience representing clients in family law situations, many of which have required modifications to child support and child custody agreements. Attorney Katz has a solid understanding of the factors that need to be proven for support or custody arrangements to be modified in New York. He also has extensive experience enforcing divorce agreements when in his clients’ best interests.

If you or someone you love is struggling to fulfill the contractual obligations of your divorce, such as alimony, child support or visitation arrangements, it is necessary to seek experienced legal counsel so you may modify the terms to better suit your current circumstances. When one party’s situation changes significantly, it is not uncommon for the agreed upon arrangements to no longer be equitable or fair. Talk to experienced family lawyer Jonathan Katz about:

• Raising or lowering child support
• Changing child custody arrangements
• Changing visitation arrangements
• Modifications based on changes of income
• Revisiting spousal support and child support

In order to warrant a post-divorce decree modification, your situation has to have substantially changed. These changes can include a new job, salary shift or moving to a new geographic area. It is important to rely on an experienced family law attorney who can determine an appropriate legal course of action taking into account all the details involved.

Regarding child support payments, if you or your spouse’s income level has been modified by at least 15 percent, the amount of child support you pay or receive could be adjusted. In addition, you are entitled to seek a child support modification every three years based on your child’s best interests. Attorney Katz is a strong advocate for the rights of his clients to enforce or modify child support arrangements based on myriad circumstances, including:

• Additional obligations to financially support children from a different marriage or relationship
• Changes in the amount of visitation time a parent spends with his or her children
• Medical and educational needs of the supported child
• New job increasing the non-custodial parent’s income level
• Job loss affecting how much the non-custodial parent can pay

If child custody arrangements change based on a number of factors, such as the custodial parent becoming unfit to parent based on mental illness, drug addiction or possibly alcohol dependency, the custody arrangement could be modified. When custody agreements change, child support can also be modified.

Every case is unique. The legal professionals at the law offices of Attorney Jonathan D. Katz have the skills and legal resources to help clients navigate through the modification process.

If you or someone you know is seeking a divorce related modification in Saugerties, Highland, Kingston, New Paltz, Poughkeepsie, Woodstock or anywhere else in Ulster County, NY, talk to an attorney who is extremely knowledgeable about these modifications. Put Mr. Katz’s knowledge of the Ulster County, Orange County, and Dutchess County, NY Family Court system to work for you.

Contact us calling (845) 328-2159 or toll-free (866) 843-6388 or fill out the online contact form to schedule your consultation with Jonathan D. Katz.