Child custody arrangements are designed to be modified in accordance with the changing needs of the child based on current circumstances. Therefore, when changes occur in a child’s life or the lives of their parents, the current child custody arrangement may need to be reconsidered. The career of a parent can heavily impact their ability to financially provide for their child. But it can also impact their schedule and the amount of physical and emotional support that they can offer.
If you or the other parent has recently had a change in employment, you may want to request a child custody modification as a result. However, before doing so, you should make sure that there has been a sufficient change in circumstances.
How could a job change impact a child?
A job change could have a positive or negative effect on the well-being of a child. If, for example, you have started working from home instead of an office and now have flexible hours, you may want to file a petition to increase the amount of time you spend with your child. You may be able to argue that your job change has increased your capacity to spend time with your child.
Alternatively, you may believe that the other parent’s hectic new work schedule is creating an unstable life for your child. You could also use this job change as a reason to request that parenting time is reduced.
Make sure that you fully understand how the child custody process in Oregon works before taking action to file a petition to modify a child custody arrangement.