Child or Spousal Support Modification by Chesapeake and Virginia Beach Divorce Attorneys

At Shannon & Associates, P.C., our practice is dedicated to family law, so we know that unforeseen circumstances such as illness and unemployment result in increased expenses and a greater financial and emotional burden on you. You still have options even after your divorce becomes final, and our attorneys evaluate whether petitioning the court for a support modification is a viable option in your specific case.

In need of help with a family law case? Call (757) 228-5529 or contact us online today to speak to a representative. 

In deciding whether to award spousal support and how much, judges consider your circumstances at the time of the divorce, including:

• Your standard of living during the marriage
• The length of your marriage
• Each spouse’s ability to earn income or to become educated or trained to earn income
• Marital property division

Financial circumstances can change drastically subsequent to your divorce. When they do, our divorce lawyers will petition the court to modify the support so that it is fair. In the absence of an agreement stating otherwise, the court can:

• Increase or decrease the amount of support
• Increase or decrease the number or duration of payments
• Terminate spousal support altogether

Significant changes that typically support a spousal support modification include:

• The loss of a job or decrease in wages by the paying spouse
• The earning of a higher salary or wages by the receiving spouse
• The unforeseen increase of health expenses due to illness
• The cohabitation of the receiving spouse with another person, as though married

Virginia judges apply the gross monthly income of both spouses to a standardized guideline in calculating a fair amount for the monthly child support payment to the spouse with primary custody. Gross income includes salaries and wages, Social Security and unemployment benefits and even income regularly received from family members. The court can, however, depart from the amount suggested by the guideline if a parent shows, either before or after the divorce, that a higher or lower amount is fair because of factors such as:

• The high standard of living before the divorce
• Voluntarily unemployed or underemployed custodial parent
• Terms of marital property division and settlement with respect to the custodial parent

At Shannon & Associates, P.C., we are family lawyers first. This means we know the many intricate laws and procedures surrounding a divorce. Your focus should be on your well-being and that of your family. Relying on a divorce attorney allows you to do that and can also relieve you of the unnecessary stress of navigating a divorce alone. Attorney has the requisite knowledge and experience to effectively negotiate or litigate your case involving child visitation, marital property disputes, spousal support modification or domestic violence.

The dedicated lawyers at Shannon & Associates, P.C. focus on practicing family law in the Virginia Beach area. Our attorneys provide compassionate legal counsel and strong advocacy in the courtroom to protect your well-being. Call (757) 228-5529 or send us a message online to make an appointment to discuss your case. Our Chesapeake office is conveniently located near the Greenbrier Mall and I-64.