Redlands Divorce Modification Attorney

Updating Custody & Support When Life Changes

Life rarely looks the same a few years after a divorce or initial custody order. Jobs change, children grow, health shifts, and schedules that once worked can become stressful or unworkable. If your current order no longer reflects your reality, you may be wondering whether it can be changed and how to start.

At Law Offices of Kimberly Prendergast, we work with parents and former spouses who need to revisit custody, parenting time, child support, and spousal support orders. Our goal is to help you understand your options, weigh the legal and emotional implications, and move forward in a way that supports your family’s stability.

Contact our Redlands divorce modification lawyer by calling (909) 324-2950 today!

Why Families Seek Modifications

Most people do not return to court lightly. By the time someone searches for a divorce modification lawyer Redlands, they are usually feeling the strain of an order that no longer fits. The reasons can be financial, practical, or related to a child’s changing needs, and often they overlap.

Some families face major income changes, such as a job loss, a promotion, or a new disability that affects earning capacity. Others find that parenting schedules drafted when a child was in preschool are no longer realistic for older children with school, sports, and social commitments. Sometimes one parent relocates, enters a new relationship, or begins ignoring the existing order, which can make co-parenting far more difficult.

We also see situations where a child develops new medical, educational, or emotional needs that require a different routine or additional financial support. In each of these circumstances, it can feel unfair or even harmful to continue under the original terms. We work to help clients determine whether a legal modification is appropriate, or whether other problem solving tools may be more effective.

Because we are a boutique firm, we do not treat these situations as routine. We listen to how the order affects your daily life, what has changed since it was signed, and what you hope your family’s arrangements will look like going forward. That foundation shapes every recommendation we make.

How California Courts View Changes

Knowing that an order feels outdated is not the same as knowing whether a judge will modify it. California family courts generally require a meaningful change in circumstances before revisiting custody, parenting time, child support, or spousal support. Understanding this standard can help you decide whether to pursue a modification and how to prepare.

Examples of changes that often justify revisiting an order include:

• Substantial increase or decrease in either party’s income over time
• A parent’s serious health issue that affects work or caregiving ability
• A child’s new educational, medical, or special needs that alter costs or schedules
• Relocation that makes the existing parenting plan impractical
• Chronic failure to follow the current order, such as repeated missed visits

Our family law attorney works with clients whose matters proceed in San Bernardino County family courts. We help clients understand how these legal standards can apply to their specific circumstances and what a judge is likely to focus on, without overstating what any court will decide.

Preparing To Request A Modification

Taking a few organized steps before or shortly after you contact a divorce modification attorney Redlands can make your consultation more productive. It can also give you a clearer picture of what has actually changed since your original order, beyond day to day frustrations.

Many clients start by locating and reviewing all current court orders, including judgments, custody and visitation schedules, and support orders. It is helpful to compare those documents to your current reality. You may also want to note specific examples of problems you are experiencing, such as missed exchanges, unpaid support, or schedules that interfere with a child’s needs.

For your first meeting, it is often helpful to gather:

• Copies of your current judgment and any later orders that modified parts of it
• Recent pay stubs, tax returns, and information about benefits or bonuses
• School calendars, activity schedules, and any documentation of special needs
• Relevant messages or emails that show ongoing issues with exchanges or support