New Year, New Plan: When (and How) to Modify Custody or Child Support in Texas

January is a natural check-in point for families. You’ve just stress-tested your schedule through the holidays and you may be facing new realities—work changes, a move across town, a child starting a new activity, or persistent conflict around exchanges. If your current orders no longer fit real life, here’s a practical, Texas-focused roadmap for considering a modification.

Quick reminder: Every situation is unique. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Step 1: Identify what’s not working (be specific)

Courts—and successful negotiations—respond to specifics, not general frustration. Common triggers for revisiting orders include:

• Work schedule changes(nights, travel, or a new shift)

• School and activity shifts(new start/end times, practices across town)

• Repeated holiday or exchange breakdowns

• A child’s needs changing(therapy, learning supports, or age-related routines)

• Long-distance moves within the metro area that make exchanges impractical

Write down concrete examples from the past 3–6 months (dates, missed exchanges, teacher emails, etc.). This becomes your “problem statement.”

Step 2: Decide what you actually want to change

Aim small and targeted before you aim big. Many families benefit from:

• Adding precise pickup/drop-off times and a default location

• Clarifying make-up time rules for unavoidable delays

• Adjusting weekday/weekend blocks to match new work schedules

• Updating holiday hand-offs to reduce mid-day travel

• Establishing a technology plan(phone rules, contact windows)

If a complete overhaul is needed, be ready to explain why your proposed plan better supports your child day-to-day.

Step 3: Gather practical, real-world evidence

Build a simple folder with:

• School calendars, activity schedules, and childcare invoices

• Work schedules or employer letters showing shift changes

• Messages documenting missed/late exchanges or holiday disputes

• Notes from teachers, counselors, or medical providers (if relevant)

Keep the tone factual and child-focused.

Step 4: Child support reality check

If income or parenting time has changed, run a fresh, good-faith comparison against guideline factors. Even if you ultimately pursue a negotiated adjustment, having organized pay stubs, tax returns, childcare and insurance costs will help you move faster and reduce conflict.

Step 5: Try the low-conflict route first

Many modifications can be resolved without a drawn-out fight:

• Propose a written addendum addressing the exact pain points

• Mediation: a neutral setting to test options and land a durable plan

• Agreed (uncontested) modification: faster and often less expensive

If safety concerns, non-cooperation, or persistent violations are in play, talk to counsel about formal options.

Step 6: Timing matters—why January can be smart

Courts, schools, and extracurriculars run on calendars. Early-year adjustments can align with the spring semester and give your family time to settle before summer travel and camps.

Step 7: Make it durable

Great modification orders share traits:

• Clarity(exact times/places)

• Predictability(what happens if someone is late or a game runs long)

• Flexibility with boundaries(how parents can agree to small changes, in writing)

• Enforceability(clear enough that a third party can tell if it’s been followed)

When to talk to a lawyer

Consider a consult if:

• You suspect any change will be contested

• There are safety, relocation, or school-choice issues

• Support calculations are complex (self-employment, bonuses, commissions)

• You’ve tried to resolve disputes informally, without success