Courts have the power to modify child custody arrangements to meet the needs of the child and to respond to changes in the parents' lives.
A parent seeking to change custody through the court usually must show that the conditions have changed substantially since the last custody order. This change of circumstance usually involves something negative in the child's current environment - such as improper supervision, or harmful conflicts with the custodial parent or stepparent, or one of the many actions that the court will consider.
This report discusses in detail everything that you need to know about seeking to modify a custody order because of a "change in circumstances."
CONTENTS
- Use of Illegal Drugs
- Removal of Negative Factors as Consideration
- Religious Training or Beliefs
- Present Managing Conservator's Circumstances
- Positive Improvement as Separate Element of Two-Part Test
- Past Isolated Instances of Misconduct
- Party's Remarriage
- Party's Physical and Mental Condition
- Party's Negative Behavior - Use of Child as Pawn
- Parents Religious Beliefs
- New Spouse's Race May Not be Considered
- Moral Misconduct
- Modifying Custody, Visitation and Child Support FAQ
- Modification of Parenting Time
- Modification of Custody in the Absence of an Agreement
- Modification of Custody
- Modification - Private Agreements
- Interfering with Child's Relationship With Other Parent
- Factors Considered in Determining Positive Improvement
- Divorce Modification
- Dishonorable Discharge
- Defining "Substantial Change In Circumstances"
- Crime Involving Child Abuse
- Conviction of Crime
- Child-Snatching
- Child's Changing Needs
- Child's Awareness of Misconduct
- Abuse of Child or Spouse
