When you speak, I guarantee you will be heard
Zacarese & Zalewski P.C.
Flat Fee Modification Cases
Call now: 516-660-4354
Life changes, court orders can too. Steven Zalewski, Esq. handles modifications of custody, visitation, and support orders in Suffolk County on flat fees from $3,500, fixed in writing before work begins.
"He didn't just win my case. He gave me back my future, my peace of mind, and my ability to breathe again."
From the very first conversation, he changed everything. He didn't just see a case, he saw me, and treated me like family. His knowledge of the law was unmatched, but what truly set him apart was his humanity. If you are looking for a lawyer, stop searching right now.
Flat-Fee Modification of Family Court Orders in Suffolk County
The order that made sense two years ago may not fit your life today. Jobs change, parents relocate, children grow, and households evolve, and New York law recognizes this by allowing custody, visitation, and support orders to be modified when circumstances genuinely change.
Zacarese & Zalewski P.C. handles modification petitions across Suffolk County on the same transparent structure as everything we do: a flat fee fixed in writing before we begin: $3,500 for child support modifications, $5,000 for custody and visitation modifications, with a trial fee only if your matter actually reaches a contested hearing.
Flat-Fee Pricing · Suffolk County Family Court
Modification of Custody, Visitation & Support Orders: Flat Fees From $3,500
Pre-Trial Flat Fee
$5,000
One fee, fixed in writing before any work begins. Covers filings, conferences, negotiations and court appearances within scope, no hourly meter.
Trial Fee: Only If Needed
$7,500
Applies only if your modification actually proceeds to a contested hearing. Support modifications carry a $3,500 pre-trial and $3,500 trial fee.
Custody/visitation modifications: $5,000 pre-trial, $7,500 trial. Child support modifications: $3,500 pre-trial, $3,500 trial. Fees fixed in writing before any work begins; third-party expenses separate.
Modifying Custody or Visitation Orders
To change a custody or parenting-time order, you must show a substantial change in circumstances since the order was entered, and that the requested change serves the child's best interests. Courts have found substantial change in relocations, significant shifts in work schedules, a parent's new substance abuse or mental health concerns, persistent interference with parenting time, domestic violence, and a child's evolving needs as they mature. Vague dissatisfaction is not enough, the case rises or falls on specific, provable facts, which is where preparation matters.
Modifying Child Support Orders
Support orders have their own statutory triggers. You may seek modification when there is a substantial change in circumstances, when three years have passed since the order was entered or last adjusted, or when either parent's income has changed by 15% or more (a downward income change must be involuntary, with diligent efforts to find comparable work). Job loss, disability, a child's changed needs, or emancipation all commonly justify revisiting the number. Until a court actually modifies the order, the existing obligation keeps accruing, so waiting costs real money.
Enforcement: When the Problem Isn't the Order, It's Compliance
Sometimes the order is fine and the other party simply ignores it. A violation petition can bring make-up parenting time, money judgments for support arrears, garnishment, and contempt remedies. We handle enforcement on the same flat-fee basis, and we will tell you candidly whether modification, enforcement, or both is the right tool for your situation.
What Your Flat Fee Covers
Everything below is included in the pre-trial flat fee, spelled out in a plain-English written retainer before any work begins.
✓Direct Attorney Access
Unlimited consultation with your attorney about strategy, evidence, and timing, no billing clock.
✓Case Assessment First
A candid evaluation of whether your facts meet the legal standard before you spend a dollar on filing.
✓Modification Petition
Drafting and filing a petition built around the specific statutory grounds that fit your case.
✓All Pre-Trial Appearances
Every conference and routine appearance in Suffolk County Family Court, handled personally.
✓Financial & Factual Proof
Assembling the income documentation or parenting evidence that modification cases live and die on.
✓Negotiated Stipulations
Pursuing agreed modifications where possible, the fastest, least expensive path to a new order.
Transparent Rates by Case Type
| Case Type | Pre-Trial Flat Fee | Trial Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Child Support (FCA Art. 4) THIS CASE TYPE | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Orders of Protection (FCA Art. 8) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Neglect (FCA Art. 10) | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| All Others (Paternity, Custody, Family Offense, Grandparent Custody, etc.) THIS CASE TYPE | $5,000 | $7,500 |
Pre-trial covers all work before testimony begins: filings, conferences, negotiations, and appearances within scope. If your matter proceeds to trial or a contested hearing, the trial fee applies to preparation and the hearing itself, and is due 30 days before the scheduled date. Third-party expenses (filing fees, process servers, transcripts, experts) are separate.
Flat Fee vs. Hourly Billing
Our Approach
Flat Fee
- Your full cost is agreed in writing before any work begins.
- Call or email your attorney freely; no clock running.
- One pre-trial fee, no matter how many appearances your case takes.
- Our incentive: resolve your case efficiently, in your favor.
The Common Way
Hourly Billing
- Cost unknown until the bill arrives.
- Hesitation to call because every minute is billable.
- Retainer drained, replenished, drained again.
- Surprise add-ons for filings, copies and minor tasks.
Flat-Fee FAQ
Which flat fee applies to my modification?
Child support modifications are $3,500 (pre-trial and trial each). Custody and visitation modifications are $5,000 pre-trial with a $7,500 trial fee only if your case actually goes to hearing. Your written retainer states the exact figures before we begin.
Can my ex and I just agree to change the order ourselves?
Informal agreements are not enforceable, and unpaid support keeps accruing under the old order regardless of any handshake deal. We convert agreements into court-approved stipulations so the change actually protects you.
How soon after my order can I seek modification?
There is no waiting period if circumstances substantially changed. For support, three years passing or a 15% income change creates additional statutory grounds even without other changes.
What if the other parent just isn't following the current order?
That may call for a violation/enforcement petition instead of, or alongside, modification. We assess both and quote each on the same flat-fee structure, so you can choose with full information.
When you speak, I guarantee you will be heard
Your Life Changed. Your Order Should Keep Up.
Flat fees from $3,500, fixed in writing before we begin, for modifications of custody, visitation, and support orders across Suffolk County.
Call · 516-660-4354Fast call-backs, often the same day. Next-day court appearances are often possible.
Contact Steven Zalewski, Esq.
Call: 516-660-4354
Office: (516) 377-7830
Email: steve@zandzfamilylawyers.com
Address: 1601 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 500, Islandia, NY 11749
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Disclaimer
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every family's situation is different, and court procedures change. Flat-fee amounts describe our standard fee structure; your written retainer agreement controls the scope and fee for your specific matter. Consult a qualified attorney about your case.
i guarantee you will be heard
Ready to Take the Next Step?
At Zacarese & Zalewski P.C., when something isn’t right, say something—and we’ll do something about it with you.
Our flat-fee structure is clear: one flat fee for pre-trial work, and a trial fee only if your case goes to trial or a hearing. Call now and a professional will return your call quickly; if we miss you, we'll call back the same day.
