Divorce Modification Attorney for Bucks County

More Than 20 Years of Family Law Experience 

Your financial or family circumstances may look very different from when the court entered your child support, custody, or alimony order. We help Bucks County residents determine whether those changes may provide grounds to modify the existing terms of their court order.

Attorney Iriana Blitshtein, our head Family Law counsel, has more than 20 years of experience handling divorce, child custody, alimony, asset distribution, and related issues. Founded in 1995, Law Offices Of Blitshtein & Weiss, P.C. serves working-class clients with affordable fees, personal attention, and respect for their privacy. Our guiding principle is simple: “The Client Matters.”

When Can Pennsylvania Family Law Orders Be Modified?

Not every life change justifies altering a court order. The applicable standard and the evidence required depend on whether the request involves child support, custody, alimony, or another obligation.

Child Support Modifications

Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1910.19 generally requires a material and substantial change in circumstances before an existing child support order can be modified. The change must be significant enough to affect the support calculation, not merely a minor or temporary fluctuation.

Changes that may support a child support recalculation include:

• Involuntary job loss or a substantial reduction in income
• A significant increase in either parent’s earnings
• A disability affecting a parent’s ability to work
• A substantial change in the custody schedule
• Changed childcare, health insurance, or other qualifying expenses

Pennsylvania uses an income shares model that considers both parents’ incomes when calculating support. Retroactive modification is generally limited to the date the petition for modification was filed, subject to exceptions recognized by law. Waiting to file may therefore reduce the period covered by an adjustment.

Child Custody Modifications

Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 5338(a), a court may modify an existing custody order at any time upon petition if the modification serves the best interest of the child. Pennsylvania law does not require a preliminary showing of a "substantial change in circumstances" for custody modifications; the child's welfare remains the controlling standard. 

When evaluating a modification request, the court considers all statutory factors under 23 Pa.C.S. § 5328(a), placing substantial, weighted emphasis on child safety. Relevant factors evaluated during a modification proceeding include: 

• Changes in parental availability, work schedules, or living arrangements.
• The need for stability in the child’s education, family, and community life.
• Safety considerations, including present or past abuse, protection orders, or household safety.
• The child’s well-reasoned preference, depending on their maturity and judgment.

If a proposed move would significantly impair the non-moving parent’s ability to exercise custodial rights, it is legally defined as a relocation and is governed separately. Relocations require formal 60-day advance notice, specific statutory disclosures, and either court approval or express written consent from every party with custody rights. 

An existing custody order remains legally binding until modified by a judge. Informal or verbal arrangements do not alter the court order and are unenforceable in custody or support disputes. However, parents who mutually agree on a modification can formalize their agreement by submitting a proposed Consent Order to the court for judicial approval.

Can Alimony or Spousal Support Be Changed?

Whether alimony can be changed depends on whether it stems from a judge’s ruling or a private agreement. In Pennsylvania, post-divorce alimony follows two distinct legal standards:

• Agreement-Based Alimony (Marital Settlement Agreements): Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105(c), alimony established through a private Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) is non-modifiable by default. Pennsylvania courts have no legal authority to alter agreement-based alimony unless the terms of the agreement explicitly grant permission to modify it.
• Court-Ordered Alimony: Alimony awarded directly by a judge following a court hearing can be modified, suspended, or terminated under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701(e) upon a showing of a "changed circumstance of a substantial and continuing nature."

Grounds for Modifying Court-Ordered Alimony 

For court-ordered alimony, a substantial change may include:

• involuntary income reduction
• long-term disability
• good-faith retirement
• a major financial shift for either party 

Additionally, court-ordered alimony automatically terminates by statute if the receiving former spouse remarries or enters into a qualifying cohabitation relationship.

How We Prepare a Petition for Modification

We begin by examining what changed, when it occurred, and how it affects the existing order. Attorney Blitshtein’s background in divorce, custody, support, alimony, and asset distribution allows us to assess whether one requested change could affect other family law obligations.

Relevant materials may include income records, tax returns, employment notices, medical documentation, childcare expenses, custody calendars, relocation notices, and the original order or agreement. We then develop a plan based on the facts rather than applying the same approach to every petition.

Our attorneys and support staff remain accessible throughout the case, not only at the beginning. Every consultation and meeting is held in strict confidentiality.

Where to File a Modification in Bucks County

Family law matters in Bucks County are overseen by the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas (7th Judicial District). The proper filing venue and procedural steps depend on the specific type of order being modified:

• Child and Spousal Support Modifications: Support matters are administered by the Bucks County Domestic Relations Section (DRS). Parties seeking a modification do not need an appointment. Petitions can be submitted online via the PA Child Support Website or mailed/delivered directly to the main DRS office at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown. Lower Bucks County residents can also access administrative support at the satellite DRS office located at 2434 Bristol Road in Bensalem.
• Custody and Post-Divorce Alimony Modifications: Petitions to modify custody, divorce decrees, or post-divorce alimony cannot be filed directly with DRS or Family Court staff. They must be formally filed with the Bucks County Prothonotary’s Office at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown, accompanied by the required filing fee and a proposed order.
• Conferences and Hearings: Settlement-oriented conferences involving custody, alimony modification, or equitable distribution are typically scheduled before a Master in Family Law (Family Law Hearing Officer) or a Common Pleas judge.

Modification vs. Enforcement

Under Pennsylvania law, modification and enforcement serve distinct legal functions. A petition to modify asks the court to alter future rights or financial obligations based on a material change in circumstances. In contrast, an enforcement (or contempt) petition addresses a party's past or present failure to obey an existing order. Unless and until a judge approves a new order or proposed consent agreement, the current court order remains binding and legally enforceable.

Discuss Your Changing Circumstances With Our Attorneys

A free initial consultation gives you an opportunity to review your order, explain what has changed, and learn about your options before committing to representation. We keep our legal fees affordable and offer competitive rates because cost shouldn’t prevent working families from seeking legal guidance.

Secure online payment is available through LawPay, and our staff can explain the applicable fees and payment procedures.