Texas law requires that modification of a divorce order be based on a material change of circumstances that has arisen since the date of the divorce. In other words, before a judge will modify child custody, the possession order or child support, the party who seeks the modification must show a change in the life of one of the parents or the children that makes a modification better for the children.

Typically, only the provisions in the divorce order relating to the children can be modified. Property issues, such as when assets are discovered after the divorce has been granted, must be handled differently and require that the case be reopened.