Marietta Modifications Lawyer
Life changes — a new job, a move, a child's evolving needs. When circumstances shift, your custody, support, or alimony order can be modified to match.
When an order can change
Georgia orders reflect circumstances at the time they were entered, so when life changes substantially, custody, child support, or alimony can be modified. The standard is a material (substantial) change in circumstances — and an informal handshake agreement won't do it. You must petition the court, and changes generally aren't retroactive.
Modifying custody
A relocation, a parent's changed situation, safety concerns, or a child's evolving needs can justify revisiting custody — always under the child's best interests. A child who is 14 or older may also state a preference the court will weigh.
Modifying child support
Support can be modified for a substantial change in either parent's finances or the child's needs — an income change, involuntary job loss, disability, or a new child. Note Georgia's timing rule: after a modification, a support order generally can't be modified again for two years, absent exceptional circumstances.
Modifying alimony — and what can't be changed
Alimony can be modified for a substantial financial change or the recipient's cohabitation with a new romantic partner. Property division, by contrast, is essentially final — courts won't reopen it absent fraud or a significant legal error.
Questions & answers
Modifications: common questions
How do I modify a custody or support order in Georgia?
You petition the court and show a material change in circumstances since the last order. Informal agreements aren't binding, and modifications generally aren't retroactive.
How often can child support be modified in Georgia?
After a modification, a support order generally can't be modified again for two years, unless there are exceptional circumstances such as an involuntary loss of income.
Can property division be changed after a Georgia divorce?
Almost never. Unlike custody and support, property division is final unless the order was unlawful or the court made a significant mistake.
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