Modification & Enforcement

The order was the beginning, not the end

Most family cases come back: incomes change, children grow, schedules break, payments stop. Modification changes the order going forward (§ 61.14); enforcement makes the existing order real. They're different tools — pick the right one.

Modify

Change the order

The gate is a substantial, material change in circumstancesthat wasn't anticipated — plus, for parenting changes, the child's best interests.

Child support modification. Commonly viable when the guideline amount would move at least 15% or $50. Run the before/after in the scenario engine.
Time-sharing / parenting plan modification. Schedule breakdown, relocation, school changes, safety issues — document the pattern, not one bad weekend.
Alimony modification. Income changes, retirement, or a supportive relationship — § 61.14 territory with real nuance.
Relocation (50+ miles, 60+ days). Requires agreement or court order BEFORE the move (§ 61.13001). Moving first is the classic catastrophic mistake.

Before/after support scenarios Document the change

Enforce

Make the order real

Enforcement runs on records: the order text, the violation dates, and the money math. Courts enforce patterns they can see.

Support enforcement / contempt. Track every missed payment: due date, amount, running arrears. Contempt requires ability to pay — that's what the fight is about.
Time-sharing enforcement. Missed exchanges with dates, times, and communications. Makeup time and remedies come from the documented pattern.
Income withholding. Support orders commonly carry income-withholding — if payments aren't flowing, this is the first fix to check.
The Motion for Civil Contempt/Enforcement (12.960). The standard starting form for support enforcement.

Payment & exchange trackers Contempt attorney review

Contempt exposure runs both ways. If you're the one accused of violating an order — or you've been withholding time-sharing over unpaid support (two separate obligations in Florida) — get attorney review before the hearing, not after. Legal information, not legal advice; § 61.14 and current case law control modification standards.

Change the order

The gate is a substantial, material change in circumstancesthat wasn't anticipated — plus, for parenting changes, the child's best interests.

Child support modification. Commonly viable when the guideline amount would move at least 15% or $50. Run the before/after in the scenario engine.

Time-sharing / parenting plan modification. Schedule breakdown, relocation, school changes, safety issues — document the pattern, not one bad weekend.

Alimony modification. Income changes, retirement, or a supportive relationship — § 61.14 territory with real nuance.

Relocation (50+ miles, 60+ days). Requires agreement or court order BEFORE the move (§ 61.13001). Moving first is the classic catastrophic mistake.

Make the order real

Enforcement runs on records: the order text, the violation dates, and the money math. Courts enforce patterns they can see.

Support enforcement / contempt. Track every missed payment: due date, amount, running arrears. Contempt requires ability to pay — that's what the fight is about.

Time-sharing enforcement. Missed exchanges with dates, times, and communications. Makeup time and remedies come from the documented pattern.

Income withholding. Support orders commonly carry income-withholding — if payments aren't flowing, this is the first fix to check.

The Motion for Civil Contempt/Enforcement (12.960). The standard starting form for support enforcement.