Modification and enforcement
Family law orders are not the end of the story. Circumstances change, and some people simply do not follow the order they agreed to. Modification changes an order going forward. Enforcement makes an existing order stick.
What we do
We bring and defend petitions to modify parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance, and we handle enforcement when an order is being ignored — including contempt motions, wage withholding, and judgments for unpaid support.
Modification
Parenting plans
A high bar, by design
Major changes to the residential schedule generally require a substantial change in circumstances. Minor adjustments have their own, lower threshold.
Child support
Easier to revisit
Support can typically be reviewed on a substantial change, and many orders can be revisited periodically regardless of circumstances.
Maintenance
Depends on the decree
Modifiable awards can change on a substantial change in circumstances. Non‑modifiable awards generally cannot, whatever happens.
Enforcement
A court order is not a suggestion. If the other party is withholding the children, refusing to pay support, or ignoring the property terms of a decree, the court has tools — contempt, judgments, wage withholding, and orders for attorney fees against the party who forced the motion. Two practical points: document what is happening as it happens, and do not respond by breaking the order yourself. That turns one problem into two.
Act promptly
Timing matters in both directions. Waiting to enforce can make a pattern look accepted, and some post‑judgment remedies carry short deadlines measured in days rather than months. If you have just received an unfavorable ruling or a petition to modify, it is worth a conversation quickly rather than after the deadline has run.
What it costs
Your first consultation is free and runs about 30 minutes, including a case evaluation. These cases range from a single enforcement motion to a full contested modification. Every case is unique, and the reliable way to get a number for yours is to ask at a free consultation, where you can get a quote specific to your situation.
Common questions
Does a raise change support?
It can. Whether it is enough on its own depends on the size of the change and how long it has been since the order was entered.
Can I recover unpaid support?
Usually yes. Past‑due support can be reduced to judgment and collected, and it does not simply expire because time has passed.
Can we agree to change it ourselves?
Informal agreements are not enforceable and can be undone later. If you want a change to hold, it needs to go through the court.
Who pays the attorney fees?
Courts can order one party to contribute, often where there is a large income difference or where a party's conduct caused the motion.
Talk it through first
A free 30‑minute consultation costs you nothing and is not a commitment. Bring the existing order and any records of what has gone wrong.
This page is general information about Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney‑client relationship. Outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. Pinnacle Family Law, PLLC · 2479 Griffin Ave., Suite 201, Enumclaw, WA 98022.