How does a court handle a motion to change brought jointly by both parties on consent?

A motion to change brought jointly, with both parties agreeing on the proposed variation, is generally handled far more quickly and simply than a contested one — since there's no dispute for the court to resolve, the process typically focuses on the judge reviewing the proposed consent order to confirm it's appropriate, rather than hearing arguments or evidence from opposing sides. This often means the matter can be dealt with through the paperwork alone, without a full attended hearing, depending on the court's practice and the nature of what's being changed.

Even on consent, a judge isn't simply a rubber stamp, particularly where the change involves a child, since the court still has an independent responsibility to be satisfied that what the parties have agreed to is actually in the child's best interests, or, for support matters, is consistent with the applicable guidelines and disclosure. If something in the proposed consent order raises a concern, the judge can ask questions or decline to approve it as written, even though both parties agree. Because the process is still faster and more straightforward than a contested motion, working out an agreement between the parties before filing is generally worth the effort.