New Jersey’s family court allows divorcees to schedule post-decree modifications. Major life changes may demand post-decree changes, or changes can be requested due to multiple life changes that cover an array of items, such as: child support, alimony, visitation rights and child custody.
The circumstances, under New Jersey State Law, in which post-decree divorce is most common are:
1. Child Custody Changes
Child-related issues are never 100% finished in a courtroom. A parent can request future changes to child-related items when the best interest of the child changes. Children are the top priority in a divorce and in a post-decree modification.
Abuse, loss of income or other circumstances may require child custody arrangement changes.
2. Child Support Changes
Substantial changes in a parent’s financial income can impact child support orders. Current orders can be modified to update the child support amount if a parent:
- Loses a job
- Gets a demotion
- Gets a rise
- Enters a higher-paying field
Courts do not monitor these situations. A modification is only granted if requested.
3. Visitation Changes
Visitation changes are frequent in New Jersey courts. Parents seek visitation modification for:
- Changes in work hours
- School changes
- Holiday changes
Couples have the right to allow their former spouse to visit with their child during new holiday schedules or hours, but when an amicable decision cannot be made without court orders, a post-decree modification request can be filed.
4. Alimony Modification
Alimony modification can be requested due to several circumstances:
- A spouse that retires may seek termination of alimony
- A spouse that moves in with a partner may have alimony terminated
- A spouse is unemployed for a period of 3 months or longer
Retirement alimony termination is allowed if the retiring spouse is 67.
Child support laws, as of February 1, 2017, initiate child support termination at 19 years of age. In special circumstances, a request can be made to extend child support until the child turns 23.
The Micklin Law Group, LLC is a New Jersey law firm focusing exclusively on divorce modifications. Attorney Brad Micklin was recently named to The National Advocates list of Top 100 attorneys from each state. You can read more on this topic by visiting our post-decree modifications. Brad has experience working with securing alimony for men. To set up a consultation, call 973-562-0100.
