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Modifying Child Custody Arrangements

Modifying Child Custody Arrangements

May 28, 2022

There may come a time when the child custody terms you have no longer accommodate your family’s needs, and a modification may be in order. If you have outgrown your child custody arrangements, reach out for the professional legal guidance of a Bloomfield Hills child custody attorney today. 

The Changes You Require

There are any number of reasons why you may need a child custody modification, including:

  • You or your ex’s work schedule has changed considerably
  • You or your ex has a new job that imposes new scheduling requirements
  • You or your ex has moved (rendering the current schedule too difficult to maintain)
  • One or more of your children have taken on part-time jobs of their own or are busy with extracurriculars

If your lives have undergone a considerable change, the court will carefully consider your request and will base its decision on the best interests of your children. The court is not interested in forcing child custody arrangements that aren’t working for those involved, but it won’t make child custody modifications based on minor changes in your lives. 

When You and Your Ex Are in Agreement

If you and your ex are in agreement about a change to your child custody arrangements, you may think that simply establishing the change between yourselves is the way to go, but this approach does not protect your parental rights. The fact is that unless you file a motion for change of custody and resolve the matter with the court, your current orders remain in effect. This means that if your spouse does change his or her mind and takes it up with the court, your original child custody orders will prevail – and you could be found in contempt of court.

Best Interest Factors

When the matter has to do with your children, the court always makes their best interests its guide. Toward this end, there is a wide range of best interest factors that the court takes into consideration, including:

  • The emotional ties formed between each parent and each child
  • Each parent’s capacity and inclination to provide each child with the love, guidance, and care necessary
  • How well the children have adapted to their current living situation and the benefits of maintaining the status quo
  • The physical and mental health of each parent (and the moral fitness of each)
  • Each child’s preference on the matter (if considered old enough to express a reasonable preference)
  • Each parent’s ability and inclination to foster a close, ongoing relationship between the children and the other parent
  • Whether or not there are any concerns related to domestic violence, child abuse, or child neglect
  • Any other factors the court considers relevant to the case at hand

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Illinois Child Custody Today

The practiced Michigan child custody attorneys at the Law Offices of Robbins & Licavoli are committed to employing their considerable experience in pursuit of a child custody modification that works for you and your children. To learn more about how we can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

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