While some situations vary, most child custody cases are processed the same way. A written parenting agreement is required by the court, and if it is not accepted by either parent or by the court, a new agreement must be drafted. If an agreement has been reached and set in place and there are circumstances that call for the modification of the custody agreement, it will be updated.
Circumstances such as loss of employment or income, remarriage, caretaking arrangements, or if the agreement has been proven to be harmful to the child are examples of why a child custody agreement may need modified.