Columbus Divorce Modification Attorney 

When Your Existing Court Order No Longer Works

A divorce, custody, or support order that made sense years ago can become unworkable as life changes. When your schedule, income, health, or your children’s needs shift, it is natural to wonder if the law gives you a way to update those terms. If you are looking for a divorce modification attorney Columbus, you likely want clear answers before you step back into court.

At Kemp, Schaeffer & Rowe, we help people review existing divorce decrees, parenting plans, and support orders to see whether a modification may be appropriate under Ohio law. Our attorneys listen carefully, look at what has changed, and explain practical options so you can decide how to move forward. We have been based in Columbus since 1977, and we understand how changes in your life can affect your orders and your family.

Our goal is to provide steady guidance during a time that can feel uncertain. You do not have to guess about your rights or rely on informal agreements that a court might not honor. We are here to help you understand the rules, the process, and what a realistic modification request might look like.

To speak with our experienced Columbus divorce modification lawyers, call us at (614) 665-5833 or contact us online today. 

Why Our Firm For Modifications

Choosing a lawyer to revisit a divorce or custody case is different from hiring someone for a brand new matter. You already have a history with the court and with the other party. You need a firm that respects that history and understands how to work within it. Our attorneys have represented individuals and families in Central Ohio for decades, and that long view helps us guide clients through modification questions with context and perspective.

Kemp, Schaeffer & Rowe is a full service firm based in Columbus. We handle family law along with employment, personal injury, estate planning, and business matters. This broad practice is particularly valuable when life changes are tied to jobs, health, or business ownership. If a layoff, promotion, new business venture, or health issue has affected your income or schedule, we already understand how those pieces fit together and how they may affect support or parenting time.

Our founding values of service and integrity shape how we approach modification work. We take time to understand your concerns, review your existing orders, and talk through what you hope to change. We strive to be direct about what the law tends to allow, what evidence matters, and where there may be risks. Our attorneys are detail oriented, and we know that in modification cases, small details in pay records, parenting schedules, or prior entries can make a meaningful difference.

We also recognize that clients often want to avoid unnecessary conflict when coming back to court. Many people in Columbus share children with the other party and see them regularly at exchanges, school events, or activities. We work to align your legal position with your long term goals, including preserving your ability to co parent when that is possible and safe.

When You Can Change Court Orders

One of the most common questions we hear is whether a specific situation is enough to justify asking the court for a change. In Ohio, courts generally look for a substantial change in circumstances that was not anticipated when the original order was entered. How that standard applies can vary based on whether you are seeking to modify child custody or parenting time, child support, or spousal support.

For parenting time and custody, the court usually focuses on the best interests of the child. Changes such as a parent’s work schedule shifting from days to nights, a move that affects school or travel time, a child’s special needs emerging, or ongoing problems with the current schedule may all be relevant. The court will typically consider whether the existing plan still serves the child well, or whether a different arrangement would be more practical and stable.

Child support and spousal support modifications are often tied to income and expenses. Job loss, promotions, changes in hours, shifts from employee status to self employment, and business growth or decline can all affect what is workable. Because our firm also handles employment and business matters, we are familiar with pay structures, bonuses, commissions, and business income that do not fit neatly on a single pay stub. We review these details with you so we can present a clearer financial picture when a modification is requested.

Sometimes both financial and parenting issues change at once. For example, a new job in another part of Central Ohio might improve your income but require a different parenting schedule. In those situations, it can be especially important to look at how the pieces connect. Our attorneys review your existing decree or agreed entry, talk through what has changed, and explain how courts in places such as the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court tend to evaluate similar situations.

Every case is fact specific, and no website can tell you definitively whether a court will grant a particular change. What we can do is help you understand whether your circumstances fit common patterns for modification and discuss whether pursuing a change is worth the time, cost, and emotional energy involved.

How The Modification Process Works

Once you have a sense that your situation may justify revisiting your orders, the next concern is usually how the process will unfold. We start by reviewing your existing court documents, including your divorce decree, parenting plan, support orders, and any later agreed entries. This helps us see the full picture of what the court has already decided and what might need to change.

We then talk with you about the changes in your life and your goals. Some clients want a modest adjustment to parenting time, while others face significant shifts in income or relocation. Our attorneys explain the range of options, which may include trying to negotiate a revised agreement with the other party, pursuing mediation, or filing a motion to modify in the appropriate Ohio court. If your matter involves Franklin County, we will typically be working within the procedures of the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court.

When negotiation or mediation is possible, we work with you to prepare proposals that are grounded in the realities of your schedules, finances, and your children’s needs. If direct resolution is not practical, we can prepare and file the necessary documents to ask the court to consider a modification. The specific steps, such as hearings and conferences, will depend on the type of order involved and the court’s local rules.

Our attorneys focus on gathering and organizing the records that help tell your story. That may include pay information, tax returns, business records, school calendars, medical records, or logs of parenting time. We aim to present information in a way that is clear and accessible to the court. Throughout the process, we keep you informed, explain what each step means, and discuss your options so you can make informed decisions. If you are working with a divorce modification lawyer Columbus, you should feel that you have both legal knowledge and practical guidance at your side.

Timelines for modifications can vary based on the court’s schedule, the complexity of your case, and how much agreement or disagreement exists between the parties. During our initial conversations, we can usually provide a general sense of what to expect given your specific facts and the court that will hear your case.

Practical Steps Before You Call Us

You do not need everything perfectly organized before you reach out, but a few simple steps can make your first conversation more productive. Gathering key documents and thinking through your goals ahead of time can help us focus quickly on what matters most to you and to the court.

Helpful information to collect before your consultation:

• Copies of your divorce decree, parenting plan, and any child support or spousal support orders
• Any later agreed entries or temporary orders that changed the original terms
• Recent pay information, tax returns, or basic records of business income if you are self employed
• Notes about schedule changes, missed parenting time, or new needs your children are experiencing
• Documents related to major changes, such as job offers, health issues, or planned moves in or out of Columbus

It is also helpful to think about what a workable outcome would look like for you. For example, you might hope to adjust weekly parenting time, modify a support amount that no longer matches your income, or align holiday schedules with your children’s activities. We can then talk about which of those goals are realistic within Ohio law and local court practice.

We generally caution clients about relying on informal side agreements that are not approved by the court. These arrangements may seem to work in the short term, but they can create confusion or disputes later if circumstances change again. During your meeting, we can discuss any informal understandings you already have and whether it makes sense to seek a formal modification.

If you live in Columbus or elsewhere in Central Ohio and are not sure where to start, we encourage you to contact our firm. We will review your orders, talk through what has changed, and help you decide whether pursuing a modification is the right step for you and your family.

To speak with our experienced Columbus divorce modification lawyers, call us at (614) 665-5833 or contact us online today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I can change my order?

The best way to know is to compare your current situation with what existed when the order was entered. We look for substantial changes in income, schedules, or children’s needs. During a consultation, we review your documents and facts and explain how Ohio courts often view similar situations.

Could asking for a modification make things worse?

Any court process carries some risk, and outcomes depend on many factors. We talk openly about potential outcomes before you decide to proceed. Our attorneys work to shape requests thoughtfully, manage conflict where possible, and avoid pursuing changes that create more risk than benefit.

How will your attorneys keep me informed?

We believe clear communication is essential. Our team explains each step, shares important filings, and lets you know about upcoming dates. We encourage questions and aim to respond promptly so you always understand what is happening and what choices you have.

What if my income changed because of my job or business?

Changes in employment or business income are common reasons to revisit support. Because our firm handles employment and business matters, we can help organize pay, commission, or business records and explain how those numbers may affect support calculations under Ohio law.

How long do divorce modifications usually take?

Timeframes vary based on the court’s schedule, the complexity of the issues, and how much the parties agree on. In many Central Ohio cases, modifications take several months from filing to conclusion. During our initial review, we can give you a more specific sense of timing for your situation.

If you are weighing whether to revisit your divorce, custody, or support orders, you do not have to sort through the legal and practical questions alone. Working with a divorce modification attorney Columbus can help you understand your options and pursue changes in a structured way that respects both your rights and your family’s needs.

At Kemp, Schaeffer & Rowe, we bring more than four decades of service in Columbus to every family law matter we handle. We listen, evaluate your specific facts, and work with you to craft a path that fits your circumstances and long term goals. Whether your concerns involve parenting time, support, or both, our attorneys are ready to talk with you about possible next steps.

To speak with our experienced Columbus divorce modification lawyers, call us at (614) 665-5833 or contact us online today.