Life changes. Court orders don't change on their own. When your circumstances have shifted, we help you bring the order into alignment with the life you're actually living.
Every divorce decree, parenting plan, and child support order is a snapshot of the family at one moment. Years later, that snapshot rarely reflects reality. Jobs change. Incomes change. Children grow. Parents move. Health shifts. What made sense at the time of the decree may no longer serve anyone.
Washington allows modifications — but the standard is strict. Courts generally require a substantial change in circumstances that was not anticipated at the time of the original order. Not every change qualifies. The legal test is specific, and the evidence required is specific to the type of modification you’re seeking.
Parenting plan modifications, child support modifications, and spousal support modifications each have their own standards. Our job is to assess whether the legal threshold is met, build the factual record to support it, and pursue the modification strategically.
We start by asking whether modification is the right path. Sometimes it is. Sometimes the better move is enforcement of the existing order, or a negotiated agreement that doesn’t require court involvement. We tell you which one fits your situation before we file anything.
When modification is the right path, we build the case carefully. Courts are reluctant to modify existing orders without strong evidence. We gather it, organize it, and present it in a way that meets the standard.
“Better to talk to an attorney before you do something, rather than after you've done something.”
— Paul Posadas, PartnerNot every change qualifies as a substantial change in circumstances. Before we file, we tell you whether your case meets the legal standard — and what it would take to strengthen it if it doesn't.
A schedule tweak, a support recalculation, and a relocation-driven restructuring are three different cases. We match the strategy to the specific modification you need.
Courts look carefully at parents who return frequently to modify. We make sure your request is well-founded, well-documented, and consistent with the record you've built.
Not every court order is modifiable, and not every circumstance justifies a modification. Here's what Washington law allows:
Residential schedule, decision-making, or restrictions. Major modifications require a substantial change in circumstances. Minor adjustments have a lower threshold but are limited in scope.
Income changes, changes in the child's needs, or the passage of time (Washington allows periodic review). Support can be raised, lowered, or restructured based on current facts.
Whether maintenance was reserved, stipulated non-modifiable, or left open in the decree determines whether and how it can be changed.
When one parent proposes to move with the child, the existing plan often has to be rebuilt around the new geography. This is a separate legal process with its own statutory requirements.
When a parent or child's safety is at risk — domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health crisis — the plan needs to change quickly and with appropriate restrictions.
Before we tell you what we think, we hear what you're facing.
→You should understand the legal landscape before you make decisions in it.
→A real plan with real contingencies — not a template.
→Inside the courtroom, at the negotiation table, and everywhere in between.
→You'll never wonder what's happening in your case.
→The case ends. Your life continues. We plan for both.
→The standard is fact-specific. Significant income changes, a parent's relocation, a change in the child's needs as they age, new safety concerns, or changes in a parent's availability can all qualify. A minor inconvenience or a preference for a different schedule generally does not.
Washington allows adjustment based on a change in circumstances or on periodic review. Many parents review support every two to three years or whenever income changes meaningfully.
No. If you and the other parent agree, the modification is faster. If you don't agree, you can still pursue modification — but you'll need to meet the legal standard and present evidence to the court.
Not always. If your decree stated that maintenance was non-modifiable, or if the court specifically reserved or waived it, your options are limited. Review your decree with an attorney before assuming modification is available.
Agreed modifications can resolve in 30-60 days. Contested modifications typically take 3-9 months, depending on the court's calendar and the complexity of the evidence.
No, if the request is well-founded. Courts don't punish parents for legitimate modification requests. But they do take notice when a parent files frequently without adequate grounds — which is why honest assessment matters before you file.
What Clients Say
Strata Family Law represents modification clients across Thurston County (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino), Pierce County (Tacoma, Puyallup, University Place, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, DuPont, Bonney Lake), and Lewis County (Chehalis, Centralia, Napavine, Morton). Whether your case is in Olympia, Tacoma, or anywhere across the greater South Sound, you get the same team, the same standard, and the same commitment.
Take the first step
One conversation can change everything.
A consultation isn't a commitment. It's a chance to understand your situation, ask the questions that keep you up at night, and find out what your options are.
Call (360) 295-9577We'll get back to you within one business day.
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Two offices. One standard. Whether you're in Olympia or Tacoma, you get the same thoughtful counsel and the same team in your corner.
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(253) 733-1533