Giving Ongoing Attention to Child Custody and Support
With the economy in turmoil and many parents under stress, modification and enforcement of family law decrees — in particular, child custody and child support decrees — is an increasingly prominent issue.
I'm Kyle Scoresby, an experienced Arizona lawyer devoted exclusively to divorce and family law. My staff and I at Scoresby Family Law in Scottsdale and Mesa have guided many clients through modification and enforcement cases. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Understanding Reasons for Modification
As children grow up, their needs change, and their parents' abilities to meet those needs may change as well. For those reasons, child custody and support decrees are open to modification after they have been issued by the family court.
- Parenting time can be modified when the original parenting plan is no longer in the child's best interests. For instance, as a child gets older, a more equal division of parenting time may be appropriate. Changing work schedules may also require new parenting schedules, and substance abuse or domestic violence can make one parent unfit for unsupervised visits.
- Child support can be modified when there has been a significant change to one of the factors in the child support formula. For instance, one parent may have lost a job, or there may be multiple children in an order and one may no longer be covered by the order.
You may be tempted to reach an informal agreement with your child's other parent about modification of child custody and/or child support. Agreements that are not approved by the court, however, are not binding and cannot be enforced.
I can help you pursue a child custody or child support modification order that will set out your and your child's rights so that they have to be respected in the future.
Vigorously Pursuing Enforcement Options
Child custody and support decrees can be enforced through the courts if one parent is not complying with them. I can explain the options that are available for enforcing an order, help you decide which strategy to follow, and represent you in any proceedings.
Child support enforcement, in particular, is an area where there are several options, up to and including contempt of court. I am experienced at helping clients navigate the system to accurately calculate and collect unpaid child support arrearages, including interest.
To discuss your child custody and support modification and enforcement goals with a knowledgeable family law attorney, contact me today.
