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Yes. Child custody rights can be modified for a number of different reasons. For example, if there has been a significant change in circumstances that greatly affects the parent’s or child’s life such as relocation, employment change, residence, or martial status, then a request to modify the child custody decree can be made in court.
In the event that the current custody order has had a negative impact on the child, such as erratic attitude and behavior or effects of parent-child relationship, the custody decree may be modified to reflect the best interests of the child.
Because of our extremely mobile society, it is highly recommended that you occasionally review your child custody order to see if it couldn’t be modified to improve the family’s life. There are many factors such as a child’s age, the child’s relationship with both parents, the parent’s relationship, and the child’s wishes that can change over a period of time. The courts recognize these factors and will modify the custody plan if it would clearly benefit the child’s best interest.
Ex-spouses can also voluntarily decide to modify their custody order by agreeing to the changes and putting them in writing. Keep in mind that oral agreements are not binding in most states and difficult to prove.
For more information about changes in child custody orders or to speak to a qualified and experienced family law attorney, please click here.
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