Parents in Florida know that children have many needs and raising children is not always easy. These needs also change over time. When they are younger they need a lot of help with many tasks and are also learning many basics of life. As they grow older there needs change and they become more independent, but still need guidance and love as they learn to become adults.
Parents need to adapt and learn how to meet these needs. This is true whether parents are together or divorced. However, how parents raise their children will be different depending on whether parents are together or not. Usually when parents are divorced there is a child custody order in place which states how parents will make decisions for their children as well as when they will have the children in their care. As children’s needs change over time or the lives of the parents change the custody orders may need to change as well.
Factors needed to modify custody order
Not all changes in people’s lives will allow for a custody order to be modified though. In order for a custody order to be modified there must be a substantial change in the circumstances. The changes also must be ones that were not contemplated at the time of the original custody order. The modification must also and most importantly be in the best interests of the children. This means that the child will not only benefit from the modification, but that remaining in the same situation would be detrimental.
Life will inevitably change for both children and parents as children grow older. Sometimes custody orders are made when children are young as well. So, as they grow older the custody order may no longer be in the best interests of the children. If this occurs, parents may need to modify the custody order. These are very fact-specific cases though and consulting with experienced attorneys may be beneficial.