Pasadena Custody Modification Lawyer

56 Years of Family Law Experience, Serving Pasadena & Los Angeles County

Life after a custody or divorce order rarely stays the same. A job change, a move, a shift in a child’s needs, or a change in a parent’s circumstances can all make an existing order unworkable. California courts can revisit custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support orders when a party demonstrates a significant change in circumstances since the original order was entered. Modification is a formal legal process, and even when both parents agree to a change, that agreement must be filed with the court and approved to be legally enforceable.

Law Offices of Makupson & Howard handles custody and divorce modification matters for clients in Pasadena and throughout Los Angeles County. Our boutique practice brings 56 years of collective family law experience to each case, with Managing Partner Kristen Howard leading a team that offers both mediation and courtroom representation. We work in Spanish as well as English, and clients receive direct attorney involvement from the first consultation through resolution.

Grounds for Modifying a Custody or Support Order in California

California courts don’t modify existing orders simply because one parent is unhappy with the outcome. A material change in circumstances must be demonstrated. For custody and visitation matters, the court applies the best interests of the child standard to evaluate whether a modification is warranted.

Circumstances that commonly support a modification request include:

• Parental relocation that affects the existing custody or visitation schedule
• Child endangerment due to domestic violence, child abuse, or a parent’s drug or alcohol problem
• A parent sentenced to prison
• A parent becoming seriously ill and unable to provide adequate care for the child
• The death of a parent

Beyond child custody, modifiable orders include visitation schedules (particularly when a parent’s work schedule or living situation has shifted), child support (when income changes materially or a child’s needs evolve), and spousal support (when the financial situation of either party changes significantly). When a child’s immediate safety is at risk, the court may issue a temporary emergency modification order without waiting for a full hearing. When both parents agree on a modification, they can file the change in writing with the court, often without a hearing. When they disagree, the court schedules a hearing and makes the final determination.

Check out our blog for more on this topic:

• How To Pursue Modifications to Custody Orders in California

The Modification Process at the Pasadena Courthouse

A post-judgment modification begins with filing a Request for Order (Judicial Council Form FL-300) with the court that issued the original order. For most of our clients, that means the Los Angeles County Superior Court at the Pasadena Courthouse, which serves Pasadena, Arcadia, Altadena, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre. From there, the process depends on whether the parties can reach an agreement or whether a hearing is required.

Resolving Modifications Through Mediation or Negotiation

When both parties are willing, modification disputes can often be resolved through negotiation or mediation before any hearing is scheduled. The Pasadena Courthouse’s Family Court Services offers court-connected mediation for custody and visitation disputes as part of the local process. Our firm also maintains an independent mediation practice. Attorney Carolyn A. Makupson completed mediation training through the Woody Mosten Program, and our team can facilitate a negotiated resolution that can avoid the cost and stress of contested proceedings.

When a Court Hearing Is Required

When a hearing is required, the petitioning party must present evidence of changed circumstances before a judge. For any child-related order, the court then applies the best interests of the child standard. At every stage, our clients work directly with an attorney rather than being handed off to support staff. That’s a deliberate feature of how we practice.

Why Pasadena Clients Choose Law Offices of Makupson & Howard for Modification Matters

Attorney Carolyn A. Makupson has been appointed by the court as minors counsel to represent the interests of children in contested custody proceedings. That appointment gives her direct, firsthand knowledge of how judges evaluate a child’s best interests when parents are in conflict, knowledge that carries into modification hearings where the same standard applies. She also served as Judge Pro Tem in Los Angeles County from 1996 to 2025, adding substantial perspective on how courts approach custody and divorce modification requests.

Our dual focus on mediation and litigation means clients aren’t locked into a single strategy. If negotiation or mediation can resolve the modification without a hearing, we pursue that path. If the matter requires courtroom advocacy, we’re prepared for that as well.

Credentials and recognition reflecting our standing in the Pasadena legal community:

• Named Top Attorneys by Pasadena Magazine seven consecutive years (2011–2018)
• Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
• Members of the State Bar of California, California Women Lawyers, and the Pasadena Bar Association
• 56 years of collective experience concentrated in California family law, including custody, support, and post-judgment modification matters

Resources:

• Defenses to Modification Based on Child’s Preference
• Child Custody Modification Information
• Custody Mediation

Contact a Pasadena custody modification lawyer at (888) 328-2734 to discuss your case and explore your options.