A divorce judgment sets the terms for support, time-sharing, and finances based on the facts at the time it is entered. When those facts change, whether through a job loss, a relocation, a new marriage, or a child growing into a different stage of life, the order may no longer fit. Brodzki Jacobs helps clients in Hollywood and across Broward County petition the court to modify the parts of a divorce judgment that depend on circumstances rather than finality.
Not everything in a judgment can be reopened. Property division is generally final once the divorce is done, but alimony, child support, and time-sharing remain adjustable because the circumstances behind them are expected to change over time. The question is whether the change is substantial enough to justify going back to court.
Florida requires a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances before a modification can be granted. The change has to be real, ongoing, and not something the party created on purpose to trigger a modification. Losing a job through a layoff can qualify. Quitting to avoid a support obligation does not.
In Hollywood, where Broward County’s economy runs on a mix of hospitality, healthcare, and small business, income changes are common and not always straightforward. A parent whose earnings dropped because the industry shifted has a different case than one who chose to take a lower-paying position. Brodzki Jacobs digs into the financial picture to show the court whether the change is genuine and involuntary. Time-sharing modifications follow a parallel standard: a substantial change in circumstances plus a showing that the modification serves the child’s best interest. A child’s needs at twelve are different from their needs at six, and a parenting schedule that worked for a younger child may need to change as routines, schools, and social lives evolve.
If your circumstances have changed and the current order no longer reflects reality, Brodzki Jacobs can evaluate whether the change meets the standard and handle the modification petition. Call 954-932-8300 to walk through what has shifted and what your options are.
