Modifications of Existing Orders in Arizona

A divorce or custody order is based on your life at the time it was made. But life does not stand still. Children grow, jobs change, people move, and circumstances shift in ways no one could have predicted. When an existing court order no longer fits your situation, Arizona law allows you to ask the court to modify it — but only under the right conditions and with the right approach.

For parenting time and legal decision-making, the court requires a "substantial and continuing change in circumstances" before it will reconsider an order. This is a real standard, not just a preference. Examples include a parent relocating out of state, a significant change in a parent's work schedule, a child's evolving needs as they grow older, or concerns about a child's safety. The court will always look first at what is best for the child, and the child's own wishes may be considered if they are old enough.

For child support, modification is allowed when there has been a "substantial and continuing" change that would change the support amount by at least 15%. This often happens when a parent loses a job, gets a major raise, a child's childcare costs change, or the parenting time schedule shifts. Because support is calculated by guidelines, the change is usually clear once the new numbers are known.

Spousal maintenance can sometimes be modified too, depending on what the original order or agreement says. Some maintenance is non-modifiable by design; other types can change if there is a significant, ongoing change in either person's circumstances, like retirement or illness. The wording of your original order matters a great deal here, and we will read it carefully with you.

The most important thing to know is this: you cannot simply ignore an old order that no longer works, and you cannot change it on your own. Until a court approves a modification, the existing order is still the law, and following it — even when it is hard — protects you. We help you file the right request, present the change clearly, and reach a new order that fits your life now.

If your circumstances have changed, let's talk about whether a modification is right for you.