Post-Decree Modification Attorneys in Bryan, TX
A divorce decree or family court order does not have to be the final word on how you live your life. If your circumstances have changed, or if your ex is pushing to change terms that are working just fine, you have legal options. The attorneys at C.E. Borman & Associates have spent over 20 years fighting for clients in Brazos County and the surrounding communities, and they know how to handle what comes after the ink dries.
Whether you are in Bryan, College Station, Hearne, Caldwell, or anywhere else in the Brazos Valley, our law firm is ready to stand beside you in court and fight for an outcome that actually reflects your life today. We take the toughest cases and turn them into the best results possible for each client.
Everyone knows that life does not stay still after a divorce. Jobs change. Children grow. Parents move. Relationships shift. What made sense when your original order was signed may be completely unworkable now.
Texas law generally allows a family court order to be modified when there has been what is called a “material and substantial change in circumstances.” That phrase means a real, lasting change that is significant enough to affect the terms of the existing order. Courts do not reopen these cases simply because one party is unhappy. The change has to be meaningful.
Common situations that may qualify include:
For child support specifically, Texas courts may also consider a modification if at least three years have passed since the last order was entered and the current support amount differs from current guidelines by at least 20% or $100.
Timing matters. An order can only be modified going forward, generally from the date the petition is filed. The exception is child-support modifications, which may be retroactive to the date of service or appearance, which ever is earlier. But in general, waiting too long may mean leaving money or custody rights on the table.
Post-decree modifications can cover a range of family law issues. Understanding which parts of your order may be open to change is one of the first things our attorneys will work through with you.
Child Custody and Conservatorship: In Texas, custody is referred to as “conservatorship.” This covers who has the right to make decisions for the child and how physical possession is divided. If the current arrangement is not serving your child’s best interests, a modification petition may be the right move. Courts in Brazos County take the child’s welfare seriously. A judge at the Brazos County Courthouse on East 26th Street in Bryan will look at the full picture of the child’s life before changing an existing order.
Child Support: A change in either parent’s income, a shift in the child’s needs, or the passage of time can all open the door to a child support modification. If you are paying more than the guidelines support, or receiving less than your child actually needs, that situation can potentially be addressed through the courts.
Spousal Maintenance: Spousal maintenance, sometimes called alimony, is the financial support one spouse may be ordered to pay the other after a divorce. These orders are not always permanent, and they can sometimes be modified or terminated based on changed circumstances, such as the receiving spouse remarrying or becoming self-supporting.
Parenting Time and Possession Schedules: Schedules that made sense when both parents lived near each other may fall apart after one parent moves across the state. If your ex relocated to a different part of Texas or beyond, the current possession schedule may need to be revised to reflect what is actually workable for your child.
For cases where you are the one who has to respond to an ex’s modification filing and defend what you have, this is where having an experienced attorney on your side matters. A petition for modification is a formal legal action. If you do not respond properly and on time, the court may grant the modification by default. That means the other side gets what they asked for, without you ever having a real chance to fight back.
Actually, the stakes in a contested modification can be just as high as the original divorce. You may be looking at a change in where your child lives, how much support you pay or receive, or whether your maintenance order continues. None of those outcomes should be left to chance.
C.E. Borman & Associates represents clients on both sides of modification cases. If your ex has filed a petition that you believe is unfair, unfounded, or simply designed to make your life harder, we can help you build a strong response.
A modification case is built on proof. Saying that things have changed is not enough. You need to show it.
Depending on the type of modification you are seeking, useful documentation may include:
Our attorneys will work with you to identify what evidence supports your position and how to present it effectively in court.
Post-decree modification cases are heard in the Brazos County District Courts and, in many situations, referred to the Brazos County Family Law Associate Court. That court handles family law matters including temporary orders hearings and bench trials. Knowing how these courts operate, what judges expect, and how local procedures work is not a small thing.
C.E. Borman has been handling tough family law cases in this area for over 20 years. That kind of experience means she has seen the arguments that work, the mistakes that hurt cases, and the strategies that hold up under pressure. She has helped parents along the Highway 6 corridor, families in the neighborhoods off William D. Fitch Parkway, and clients from communities throughout the Brazos Valley who needed someone willing to fight for them.
This is not a law office that looks for the easy path. When the stakes involve your children or your financial stability, you need a lawyer who will go to the mat for you.
CE Borman & Associates serves clients throughout Brazos County and the surrounding region, including communities in Robertson County, Burleson County, Grimes County, and Madison County. Whether you are dealing with a custody dispute near the Texas A&M campus, a child support issue in the Midtown Bryan area, or a spousal maintenance matter in a smaller surrounding community, our attorneys understand the courts and procedures that govern your case.
If your current family law order no longer reflects reality, or if someone is trying to change an order that is working for you and your children, do not wait. The sooner you get legal counsel involved, the better positioned you will be.
Contact CE Borman & Associates to schedule a consultation and talk through your options with an attorney who has the experience and the drive to handle what comes next.
We’ll learn more about your situation and discuss your options for moving forward.
Together, we’ll get to work resolving your issues – representing you through mediation and, if necessary, in court.
Child custody arrangements can be modified if there has been a material and substantial change in the child or parent’s circumstances, such as a parent’s relocation, changes in the child’s needs, or instances of parental misconduct.
To request a modification, you typically need to file a petition with the court outlining the reasons for the change and providing evidence supporting your request, after which a hearing will be scheduled to review the case. An experienced family lawyer can help with this process.
Courts consider factors such as the child’s best interests, the reasons for the requested modification, the parents’ abilities to care for the child, and any relevant evidence presented during the hearing.
Yes, child support orders can also be modified. For example, job loss or change can result in a decrease in income, impacting your ability to pay. Just as with child custody modifications, you will have to prove that there has been a substantial change in circumstances and that the modification will be in the child’s best interest.
The timeframe for obtaining a modification varies depending on the complexity of the case, court schedules, and other factors, but it typically takes several weeks to months. The process involves filing the petition, attending a hearing, and awaiting the court’s decision.
You can’t prevent big life changes from happening. But with C.E. Borman in your corner, you can be sure that they won’t prevent you from having the custody arrangement you and your child need. Contact our Bryan, Texas office today to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.
