If you are co-parenting with a former spouse or partner, you already know the juggling act that complying with the schedule in a child custody order can be. Vacations, car trouble, illnesses, and work demands are just some of the factors that can add another ball to the set you already have in the air. And as a child gets older and advances into middle school or high school, the challenges can increase in number and intensity. In addition to possible logistical issues, the pre-teen or teen may have strong opinions about where they reside and the parenting time schedule. It may be time to revisit the child custody order and request a change.

If you have children and need to modify your child custody agreement, the LLF Law Firm Family Law Team can help you negotiate the terms with your former spouse or partner and take the necessary legal steps to obtain a new order. We have helped parents throughout Pennsylvania with this common action. Call the LLF Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or reach out via our online contact form.

As Your Children Grow Older, You May Need to Change Your Child Custody Agreement

As your children grow older, their needs, schedules, and preferences will change, which may require revisiting your child custody order. In Pennsylvania, the court will take the child's preferences into account, considering them in the context of the child's maturity, judgment, and developmental stage, but the judge makes the final decision. Here are some of the issues that may arise:

• Your rising ninth grader is very serious about basketball and has shown a lot of promise, but the best coach in your town is at the high school in your ex-husband's neighborhood.
• Your child's new school day schedule creates logistical difficulties for either you or their other parent. For example, in Pittsburgh Public Schools, high schools start at 7:40 a.m., but students in other grades start between 7:40 a.m. and 9:10 a.m., depending on which school they attend.
• Your child has experienced bullying in their current school, and they would benefit from transferring to a school in the other parent's neighborhood.
• Your child is rebelling at your current parenting time plan, which requires them to go back and forth between your home and that of the other parent a couple of times a week.

The Family Law Team at LLF Law Firm Can Help With Changes to Your Child Custody Order

A child custody order is a court order, and any changes must be approved by the court. The LLF Law Firm Family Law Team can advise you throughout the process of changing your current child custody order. Contact the Family Law Team at LLF Law Firm today by calling 888.535.3686 or through our online form.