NY family law attorney Ken Jewell explains when and why custody can be modified in New York. He states that custody can be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances. For example, this could occur if one parent moves significantly farther away than they were living at the time of the divorce, or if a new financial or work opportunity limits a parent’s ability to care for the children as they normally would. Other situations, such as neglect or abuse, also qualify as substantial changes. In these cases, the court may consider modifying the existing custody arrangement to reflect the new circumstances.