A piece of paper with a drawing of a family on it. The paper has been ripped, and a smaller drawing of a child is in between. The drawing on the ripped paper has a mother and father.

How to Modify a Child Custody Order

Making Changes When Changes are Needed

There may come a time when a child custody order no longer seems to be in the best interest of the child. When such a situation arises, you may wish to seek a change to your custody order in a process known as modification. However, in order to modify your child custody order, certain conditions must be met. Here is what you need to know regarding modifying a child custody order in Ohio.

Proving Substantial Change

In order to seek a modification to a child custody order, a substantial change must have occurred; this change must have happened after the initial child custody order was put in place. Examples of these types of changes include the following situations:

  • One parent lost their job (typically the parent with primary custody) and no longer has a regular source of income.

  • The primary custodian wishes to move out of state and take the child with them.

  • Something is occurring that puts the child’s life in harm or danger, such as illegal activity or abuse.

This change means that a child’s best interests are no longer being met, and since this standard is the number one factor in determining child custody, the person seeking a modification believes that the child custody order currently in place is no longer serving the child’s best interests.

Seek Legal Help

The modification process can be lengthy, meaning that just because you file for a change does not mean that the change will occur right away. In order to provide yourself with the best possible chance at getting the modification you seek, it’s necessary to work with a family law attorney who can help you understand your options and guide you throughout the process.

Your attorney can help you fill out the proper forms to begin the process to seek a modification to your child custody order. At your hearing, the judge presiding may ask questions to better understand the current situation you may be facing and how the change you are seeking will serve the child’s best interests.

Get Started with an Ohio Child Custody Attorney

Remember that modification can be a complicated process and may not have immediate results. To better navigate the process while upholding your existing custody order, you should work with an attorney to help you. At The Law Offices of LeeDaun C. Williams LLC, our team can help you work through the child custody modification process to help you meet your child’s needs.


Learn more about child custody modification in Ohio or schedule your family law consultation by calling us at (216) 350-8511 or by visiting our website.

Categories