Enforcing Orders. Securing Modifications. Protecting Your Rights Through Every Step.
When significant shifts occur in a person’s financial or personal situation, the terms of a divorce may also need to be adjusted. At The Law Office of Christine Saverda Nielson, P.A., in Towson, Maryland, we help clients across the Baltimore area seek modifications to their obligations when circumstances warrant or take action to uphold existing agreements when proposed changes are unfounded.
In addition to assisting with modifications, our firm also represents clients in the enforcement of court-ordered obligations. If a former spouse fails to comply with orders regarding support, custody, or property division, we pursue the legal remedies available to ensure compliance and protect our clients’ rights.
What’s Required to Modify a Court Decree?
Maryland courts recognize many valid reasons for modifying custody, support, or related family obligations. Common examples include:
CUSTODY: You secure employment out of state and need to relocate with your child, or you wish to ensure continued access to your child after a move.
CHILD SUPPORT & ALIMONY: You experience a job loss and can no longer pay the same amount, or your former spouse receives a substantial financial benefit that warrants adjusting support payments.
VISITATION OR PARENTING TIME: You complete a treatment program and seek to expand your involvement in your child’s life.
CHILD SAFETY: Your co-parent engages in violence toward you or your child, or maintains associations that place your child at risk.
Committed to Fighting for the Modifications You Need
Sometimes a proposed modification to an existing court order is not in a child’s best interests. Other times, a change can provide meaningful benefits. In Maryland, as in most states, judges evaluate custody and support modification requests by focusing on the best interests of the child. When the issue involves alimony alone, the courts review the changing financial circumstances of each party.
If a parent or former spouse fails to meet obligations—whether by refusing to pay child support or alimony, or by disregarding custody arrangements—the court can enforce compliance. In serious cases, the individual may be held in contempt of court, a consequence that can carry severe penalties, including possible jail time.
Whether you want to request a modification, prevent a change from taking effect, or protect and enforce existing orders, attorney Christine Saverda Nielson is prepared to listen closely to your concerns and advocate for your goals with determination and skill.
A graduate of Yale Law School and a former federal agent with the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Ms. Nielson has spent over 15 years representing family law clients throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Individualized Strategy to Explore Your Best Options
With years of experience representing family law clients in the Towson area, Christine Saverda Nielson understands that no two cases are alike. For instance, a custodial parent may need to pursue child support enforcement if a noncustodial parent fails to contribute to educational expenses. In other situations, however, enforcement may not be the right approach. An ex-spouse might face an unexpected financial setback that makes alimony payments impossible to maintain, in which case a modification could be more appropriate than strict enforcement.
Because every family’s circumstances are different, Nielson carefully evaluates each matter to identify the best path forward. As her client, you can trust that your needs will be given thoughtful attention and that any strategy pursued will be tailored to support your goals.
Navigating Life After Divorce Brings Challenges Too
Finalizing divorce paperwork does not always guarantee a smooth path forward for both spouses. After a divorce or separation, the court issues legally binding orders, often concerning child custody, child support, or alimony (spousal support). While these terms are typically agreed upon during the divorce process, many people in Maryland continue to struggle with enforcement, leading to stress, conflict, and frustration.
If you find it difficult to work with your former spouse in following these orders, you do not have to face the challenges alone. You need an experienced attorney who will stand up for your rights. Whether you are diligently complying while your former spouse is not, or you are being accused of violating the agreement, the Law Office of Christine Saverda Nielson, P.A., has the experience and determination to advocate on your behalf.