Post-Decree Modification & Enforcement Attorney in Chicago
Protect your rights. Resolve what your decree didn’t.
Your Divorce Agreement Was Final. But Life Isn't.
Your divorce agreement was final. But life isn’t. Parenting schedules get ignored. Financial support stops. Life circumstances shift. When your post-divorce reality no longer matches your original court order, Anderson Boback & Marshall helps you protect your rights and restore order quickly and strategically.
Post-decree legal matters arise when one party violates divorce judgment terms or when significant changes render existing court orders ineffective. These cases are often time-sensitive and emotionally charged. They also require attorneys who know how to resolve them efficiently and decisively.
Take Action on Your Divorce Judgment
Divorce doesn’t always mean resolution. Parenting schedules get ignored. Financial support stops. Life circumstances shift. When your post-divorce reality no longer matches your original court order, Anderson Boback & Marshall helps you protect your rights and restore order — quickly and strategically.
Why People Come Back to Court After Divorce
Post-decree issues can disrupt your life in unexpected ways — and they’re rarely simple. Below are the most common situations that bring clients back for legal help:
One parent needs or wants to move out of state or far from the original location, which disrupts the parenting plan.
A significant income change affects the fairness of child support or spousal maintenance obligations.
A parent or child develops a health issue that impacts finances or custody logistics.
Orders are outdated due to remarriage, new children, or major financial changes.
One parent disrupts communication or access with the child, resulting in parental alienation.
Support or asset terms haven’t been followed and you need to enforce the court order.
Needs have evolved, and the current agreement doesn’t reflect that.
You agreed to changes off-record, and now they’re being used against you.
You’re constantly managing drama instead of parenting, and it’s affecting your life and your kids.
In each of these cases, Anderson Boback & Marshall helps clients move from reaction to resolution — with strong legal footing and a clear plan.
How We Help After Your Divorce Is Final: Post-Decree Legal Services
Our post-decree legal services directly address the challenges you’re facing:
- Child Custody Changes: Filing motions to modify custody when arrangements no longer serve your children's needs.
- Child Support Updates: Calculating accurate child support adjustments based on current financial situations.
- Alimony Modifications: Changing spousal support when income or expenses have significantly shifted.
- Court Order Enforcement: Enforcing existing court orders through effective contempt proceedings
- Emergency Protection: Taking fast legal action or securing emergency motions when you or your children need immediate protection.
- Child Relocation Legal Representation or Guidance: Getting approval to move with your children or addressing your ex's planned move. Representing parents in relocation disputes, whether requesting or objecting.
- Formalize Informal Agreement or Changes: Drafting legal documents that turn your verbal agreements into court-approved orders to prevent future disputes.
Our Post-Decree Resolution Process: Clear, Strategic, Effective
When you’re facing post-divorce legal challenges, having a clear roadmap helps reduce uncertainty and stress. We’ve developed a straightforward approach to help you navigate post-decree challenges effectively:
Initial Consultation
Strategic planning
Precise legal action
Effective representation
Implementation
This approach has helped hundreds of clients resolve complicated post-divorce issues and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Results where previous attorneys struggled
Our focused approach resolves complicated post-decree matters including international relocations and high-conflict custody disputes.
Immediate action on urgent matters
When your situation can't wait, we file necessary motions within days, not weeks, securing hearings quickly when children or finances are at risk.
Honest assessment of your situation
You'll receive straightforward evaluation of your legal position and practical options for resolving post-decree challenges effectively.
Responsive service when situations escalate
When emergencies arise, our team provides same-day responses and rapid filing of urgent motions to protect your rights and interests.
What Past Clients Say
FAQs About Post-Decree Legal Help
What qualifies as a "substantial change" for modifying child support or custody?
Courts consider changes substantial when they significantly impact existing arrangements. For child support, income changes of 20% or more typically qualify. For custody, qualifying changes include relocation, major schedule changes affecting parenting time, health issues impacting caregiving ability, and safety concerns in the current environment. The change must have occurred after your original judgment and must be ongoing, not temporary.
How do I enforce a court order when my ex isn't following it?
When your ex violates court orders, we file a petition for rule to show cause (contempt) to compel compliance. This powerful legal tool requires your ex to explain to the judge why they shouldn’t be penalized for non-compliance. Enforcement options include wage garnishment for unpaid support, makeup parenting time for visitation violations, and court-ordered transfer of property. In serious cases, the court can impose fines or jail time for deliberate violations.
How quickly can I get emergency relief if my situation is urgent?
When immediate intervention is necessary, we can file emergency motions that receive expedited hearings, often within 24-72 hours. Valid emergency situations include child endangerment, sudden custody interference, or immediate financial emergencies like impending eviction. We prepare all required documentation for swift filing and represent you at the emergency hearing to secure immediate protective orders.
Can I modify our agreement if circumstances have changed since the divorce?
Yes. Post-decree modifications are available when circumstances have substantially changed since your original judgment. Common modifications include adjusting parenting schedules when work hours change, recalculating support when income significantly increases or decreases, and updating maintenance when financial situations evolve. We help you document these changes and demonstrate why modification serves your family’s current needs.
Can my ex move out of state with our child after divorce?
No. In Illinois, your ex cannot simply relocate with your child without proper authorization. If they want to move more than 25 miles from their current home in Cook County (or 50 miles in other Illinois counties), they must either get your written consent or obtain court approval through a formal relocation petition. The court will evaluate whether the move serves your child’s best interests by examining factors like educational opportunities, the impact on your parenting time, and your child’s ties to their current community. We help parents object to harmful relocations or negotiate arrangements that protect their parenting relationship when moves are necessary.
Still Dealing With Post-Divorce Problems?
Stop struggling with post-divorce problems. Take effective legal action.
Anderson Boback & Marshall serves clients across Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will Counties with focused post-decree representation that brings clarity to chaos and resolution to ongoing conflicts.
