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After the decree
4 min read
Changing a parenting plan after the judgment
Children grow and lives change. Here is how to update a plan without starting over.

Ben Lindqvist

A plan written for a four-year-old rarely fits a fourteen-year-old. Updating it is normal and usually straightforward.
If you both agree
Write down the new arrangement and file it with the court so it becomes the new order. We can draft it for you.
If you do not agree
The court can change the plan if circumstances have changed and the change is in the child’s best interests.
Until then
Keep following the current plan. Informal changes are fine day to day, but only the filed order can be enforced.
This guide is general information about family law in Oregon and Washington. It is not legal advice for your situation, and reading it does not make us your lawyers. Laws differ by state and change over time.
Key points
Agreed changes can be filed without a hearing
Disputed changes need a change in circumstances
Keep following the current plan until it is changed
Related service
Modifications & enforcement
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