Modify custody orders and support with an Alpharetta family law attorney
Orders should match current life
Custody and support orders are meant to fit your family as it is now, not as it was years ago. When a meaningful change affects a child, parenting time, or finances, Georgia law may allow a modification.
MEINCKE | HOUSTON FAMILY LAW helps clients across Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Cumming, and Suwanee adjust custody, child support, and alimony orders through the proper legal process.
What counts as a material change
A move, a shift in work schedule, a child’s new needs, or a significant change in income may support a modification request. The key is showing that the change impacts the child’s well-being or makes the current order unreasonable.
We gather the records, build the narrative, and present it clearly to the court.
Negotiated changes and court filings
Some former spouses can agree on updates together. Informal changes are not enforceable until they are signed by a judge, so we handle the paperwork to make agreed updates legally binding.
If agreement is not possible, we prepare your case for mediation or hearing.
Questions about modification
How soon can I request a change?
Custody or parenting time may be modified when there is a material change affecting the child. Child support modifications usually require a meaningful change in income or needs and may be subject to timing rules. We will review your timeline and advise your options.
Can I modify without going to court?
Even with agreement, the change must be filed and approved by the court to be enforceable.
Does a child turning 14 matter?
Yes. In Georgia, a child 14 or older can state a custodial preference that carries substantial weight, though the court still reviews best interests.
If the other parent is violating orders
When a parent breaks the current order, enforcement may be the right first step. Our enforce court orders page explains how contempt works.
Bring your order back into balance
MEINCKE | HOUSTON FAMILY LAW is ready to help you update your orders so they meet today’s reality.
