The decision to build a new family unit, through a new marriage or the birth of a child, represents a significant moment in a person's life. However, when obligations arising from a previous separation or divorce exist, this new phase can raise complex legal questions. Understanding how these changes affect alimony for the ex-spouse, child support, and visitation arrangements is crucial for managing the transition with peace of mind and respecting everyone's rights. As a family lawyer in Milan, lawyer Marco Bianucci assists his clients in dealing with these delicate situations, providing clear guidance based on a deep knowledge of the law and case law.
The conditions established at the time of separation or divorce are not immutable. Our legal system provides for the possibility of modifying them if “justified supervening reasons” arise. The birth of a new child or the formation of a new family typically represent circumstances that can alter the economic and personal balance on which the original agreements were based. The law, particularly through the articles of the Civil Code governing relationships between spouses and parents-children, allows for an application to be submitted to the Court to request a review. This request does not lead to an automatic modification but initiates a proceeding in which the judge will carefully assess the new financial and personal situation of both parties to determine if and how to adjust pre-existing obligations, always keeping the overriding interest of minors as a guiding principle.
Addressing a request to modify divorce or separation conditions requires strategy and expertise. The approach of lawyer Marco Bianucci, an expert in family law in Milan, focuses on a detailed and personalized analysis of each individual case. The first step involves gathering all necessary documentation to demonstrate the actual change in economic capacity, such as new sources of income, but also new burdens and fixed expenses arising from the new family. The goal is not simply to obtain a reduction or increase in payments but to renegotiate a sustainable balance that adequately protects the needs of children born from the previous union, without neglecting duties towards the new family unit. The firm is committed to seeking consensual solutions, where possible, which often represent the quickest and most effective way to ensure the peace of mind of all parties involved.
No, the reduction is never automatic. The birth of a child from a new relationship is a valid reason to request a review of alimony, but the judge must conduct a comparative assessment. They will analyze the decrease in disposable income of the obligated parent in light of new maintenance duties, ensuring that the support for children from the previous union continues to guarantee them an adequate standard of living and that the needs of all children, without distinction, are met proportionally.
If the spouse receiving alimony enters into a new marriage, their right automatically and permanently ceases. If, however, the spouse obligated to pay remarries, the alimony is not cancelled. Nevertheless, the formation of the new family unit and the related economic burdens can constitute a justified reason to ask the Court for a reduction in the amount, which will be granted only after careful evaluation of the overall financial situation of both parties.
The modification must be formally requested through a petition filed with the competent Court, with mandatory legal assistance. The proceeding can be consensual, if the parties reach an agreement that is then ratified by the judge, or judicial, if there is no agreement and the final decision rests with the magistrate after examining the evidence and hearing the parties. It is a structured legal process that requires careful preparation of documentation to support the request.
Visitation rights are a fundamental right of the child to maintain continuous contact with both parents. The formation of a new family by one of them does not, in principle, alter the visitation schedule. However, new logistical or personal needs may arise that require an adjustment of the arrangements. Any modification must be agreed upon by the parents or, in case of disagreement, determined by the Court, always and only with the child's well-being and paramount interest as the sole guiding criterion.
If you are facing a change in your family situation and wish to understand the legal implications regarding maintenance obligations or visitation rights, it is essential to receive qualified legal advice. Lawyer Marco Bianucci, with consolidated experience in family law, offers legal consultation and assistance for the revision of separation and divorce conditions. Contact Studio Legale Bianucci, located in Milan at via Alberto da Giussano 26, to analyze your specific situation and define the most appropriate strategy to protect your rights and those of your children.