Modifications Attorney in Danvers, MA

Types of Modifications We Handle

Massachusetts courts can modify several types of family law orders when the legal standard is met. We handle modifications across the three most common categories. Attorney Danielle Mastrapasqua takes the lead on custody and child support matters, including high-conflict cases involving prior agreements. Attorney David Broderick handles alimony modification proceedings, including termination of alimony.

Child Custody & Parenting Time

Custody and parenting time modifications are evaluated under the best interests of the child standard. Courts look at whether the current arrangement still serves the child’s emotional, educational, and physical needs, and whether a proposed change would better serve those interests. These cases can be deeply personal, and our team works to present a clear, well-supported case on your behalf.

Child Support

Child support modifications are governed by the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines, which weigh both parents’ incomes, the child’s financial needs, and the allocation of parenting time. A meaningful shift in either parent’s income or a change in the child’s needs can be grounds for revisiting an existing support order.

Alimony

Under the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act, alimony may be modified when either party experiences a material change in financial circumstances. General term alimony terminates upon the recipient’s remarriage and may be suspended, reduced, or terminated upon cohabitation, defined under the Act as maintaining a common household with another person for a continuous period of at least three months. Attorney Broderick handles these proceedings with a focus on protecting his clients’ long-term financial interests.

The Legal Standard for Modification in Massachusetts

To seek a modification, the requesting party must demonstrate a material and substantial change in circumstances since the original order was issued. This threshold keeps courts from being flooded with minor disputes: the change must be significant, not a temporary fluctuation or a preference shift.

Common qualifying circumstances include a significant change in income or employment, a parent’s relocation, or a meaningful change in the child’s health, educational, or emotional needs. In custody cases, satisfying the material change standard is necessary but not sufficient on its own: the proposed modification must also serve the best interests of the child. For alimony, Massachusetts law specifically allows for modification or termination when the recipient remarries, cohabits with another person for at least three continuous months, or when either party’s financial situation changes materially. We can assess whether your circumstances meet this threshold before you file.