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Chicago Post-Decree Modifications Attorney
When the order no longer fits the facts, we help you change it, or defend against a change that isn't warranted.
Your Divorce Decree Was Final. Your Life Wasn't.
A divorce judgment resolves your case as it existed at the time. It doesn't account for job changes, moves, new relationships, children growing up, or the hundred other ways life shifts after a marriage ends. When circumstances change in a meaningful way, Illinois law allows — and sometimes requires that your court orders change with them.
Post-decree modifications are one of the most common reasons former clients come back to us. They're also one of the most common reasons people who handled their own divorce end up needing an attorney for the first time.
What Can Be Modified
Not everything in a divorce decree can be changed, and not every change in your life qualifies as grounds for modification. Illinois law sets a specific standard: there must be a substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the original order. What that looks like depends on what you're trying to modify.
Parenting Time and Parental Responsibilities
Child Support Payments
Spousal Maintenance
When the Other Party Won't Cooperate
Modification requires a court order. You cannot simply agree to change the terms informally and expect that agreement to be enforceable. If your co-parent has stopped following the parenting schedule, your ex-spouse has stopped paying maintenance, or circumstances have changed and the other party refuses to negotiate, enforcement and modification proceedings may both be necessary.
We handle cases where former spouses are cooperative and cases where they aren't. Either way, the process starts with filing the right motion and building the right record.
Our Approach to Post-Decree Modifications
Why Clients Choose LaRocque Law
We understand that coming back to court after a divorce feels like a step backward. In most cases, it's a necessary part of making sure the legal framework around your family reflects your actual life. We handle post-decree matters efficiently and practically, with a focus on getting you to a resolution that works without unnecessary litigation.
LaRocque Law serves clients in Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County.