Custody

There are a couple of legal steps that can be taken immediately after the judge makes the order if your situation fits the circumstances explained below:

• A motion for reconsideration asks the judge to decide differently based on the law or new evidence.
• An appeal moves the case to a higher court and asks that court to review the lower court’s decision due to a judge’s error.

A motion or petition to change (modify) the order is a legal request that would not be filed right away. You could ask for a modification if, later on, a substantial change of circumstances happens. A few examples could be if the other parent gets sent to jail, gets charged with child abuse or neglect, or moves to another state. If you are already divorced, a petition for a change in custody can be filed in the county where the divorce was issued.

Learn more about these options in our After a Decision is Issued section. To find out how the process works in your area and get advice for your specific situation, contact a local lawyer. Go to our IA Finding a Lawyer page for legal referrals.​