Modification &
Enforcement

Divorce Modification & Enforcement Attorney in Plano

Changing or Enforcing a Family Court Order? Work With a Lawyer Practicing Since 2011

Divorce decrees, child support, and child custody orders reflect your personal and financial circumstances when the order is issued. Changes in income, employment, health insurance, a child’s needs, or parenting arrangements may create grounds to request a modification. Until the court changes an order through the appropriate legal process, its existing terms remain enforceable. An informal agreement between parents doesn’t change a court-ordered child support obligation.

At Law Office of Brian Bagley, we represent clients in family law and divorce order modification and enforcement cases. Brian Bagley has practiced since 2011 and develops an individualized strategy for each post-decree dispute, including matters involving business owners, high-value assets, military families, and complex parenting circumstances. We can evaluate the existing order, available evidence, and possible court remedies while also considering mediation or a negotiated resolution when appropriate. Although post-decree disputes can become contentious, our work in uncontested divorce also informs negotiations when the parties can reach an agreement.

Need to change or enforce your family court order? Contact us at (972) 843-7158 to discuss your case with our Plano attorney.

Family Law & Divorce Order Modifications in Texas

Texas Family Code Chapter 156 addresses modifications involving a child’s conservatorship, support, possession, and access. A party affected by an order may file in the court with continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, meaning the court that retains authority over the case. Depending on the type of order, the requesting party may need to prove a material and substantial change, which is a meaningful change in circumstances since the current order was signed.

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal support modification requires analysis of the governing order and the Texas statutes that apply to the parties’ circumstances. Changes involving income, employment, health, remarriage, or self-support may be relevant, but they don’t create an automatic right to change or terminate maintenance.

Child Support

Child support may need review after changes in income, additional children the parent is legally obligated to support, health-insurance coverage, the child’s needs, or the child’s living arrangement. A material and substantial change may support a child support modification. In qualifying cases, review may also be available when more than three years have passed and the guideline amount differs from the existing order by at least 20 percent or $100.

Parents can’t modify court-ordered child support solely through an informal agreement. The amount must be changed through a court proceeding or the Texas Child Support Review Process. Until that occurs, the ordered amount remains due.

Conservatorship, Possession & Access

Child custody modifications may address conservatorship, parenting-plan provisions, possession schedules, and access terms when the applicable statutory requirements are met. A parent’s changed routine, relocation issues, a child’s circumstances, or conduct that may endanger a child can be relevant. A child who is at least 12 may express a preference through the procedures established by Texas law, but age or preference alone doesn’t determine the outcome.

Following the Existing Order

If you’re seeking a modification, continue following the existing order until the court approves an enforceable change. A request should identify the current order, explain the legal basis for modification, and connect the requested relief to current circumstances. Whether any change can apply to an earlier date depends on the type of support, the filing and service dates, and the limits imposed by Texas law.

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Enforcement of a Texas Family Court Order

If you’re subject to a family court order and fail to uphold it without obtaining approval for a modification, the other party can take legal action to enforce the order. Texas Family Code Chapter 157 allows a motion for enforcement involving temporary or final orders. Enforcement may address child support, possession and access, spousal maintenance, and court-ordered property division in a divorce.

A motion for enforcement must identify the provision allegedly violated, describe the noncompliance, and state the requested relief. Child support filings generally address the amounts ordered, paid, and unpaid, including claimed child support arrears. Possession and access claims may need to identify the dates, places, and times of denied exchanges or parenting periods.

Evidence used to evaluate an enforcement matter may include:

Copies of the current court order
Payment histories and financial records
Messages or other communications between the parties
Calendars and records of missed exchanges
Documents showing compliance or the alleged violation

Depending on the order and facts, remedies may include a money judgment, income withholding, liens, attorney’s fees, make-up possession, or contempt-related relief. If you’re the subject of an enforcement action, respond promptly. Contempt proceedings can involve fines, community supervision, or imprisonment, so the precise allegations and requested remedies require careful review.

We represent clients in modification and enforcement proceedings after courts issue divorce decrees or child custody orders. Our work may include reviewing the existing order, identifying a requested change or alleged violation, organizing evidence, negotiating when appropriate, and presenting the case through the applicable court process.

Our divorce modification lawyer serves Texans in Plano, Frisco, Allen, Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County, and Rockwall County. We tailor our approach to the legal, financial, and family circumstances involved.

Call us at (972) 843-7158 to request a consultation about modifying, enforcing, or responding to a family court order.

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This legal team in my opinion, is elite. I can’t say enough good about them. Brian has gone ABOVE and BEYOND in making sure ...

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This office is a top-notch law firm. My issues were handled efficiently and skillfully to my satisfaction. Kristen and Gwen ...

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