what to ask your lawyer when dealing with a relocation parent

by Prof. Johnathon Kemmer MD 6 min read

Can a relocating parent relocate to serve a child’s best interest?

Apr 09, 2015 · Geography aside, the relocating parent must show a “good faith basis” for the move, and the relocation must serve a child’s best interests. If you hire an attorney , it’s important to discuss all the reasons for your move.

What are the rules for relocation in child custody?

Jan 31, 2019 · In California, the law states that the relocating parent must provide notification of their proposed move at least 45 days prior to the move date. ... The court will consider the following when dealing with a relocation custody case: ... Contrarily, if your co-parent plans on relocating with your child against your wishes, you have a right, as ...

Do I need a lawyer for a relocation case?

Apr 09, 2022 · Previous Relocation Law. Before the 2015 law, the court used the rulings from two cases (Schwartz v.Schwartz and Potter v.Potter) to determine whether a parent may relocate with the children.. In Schwartz v.Schwartz, the court established six factors to consider in allowing a relocation.Those factors are: The extent to which the relocation is likely to improve the quality …

What should I do if my child's other parent moves away?

Moving more than 50 miles from an address outside of those counties; Moving to another state that is more than 25 miles from the current address; Protect Your Parental Rights. If you need guidance during a parental relocation or a move-away after divorce, contact the lawyers at Robert A. Chapski, Ltd. Call 847-742-1642 or send us an email. Our ...

What happens when one parent wants to move away?

When a divorced parent wants to move away with a child, one of the parents files a motion with the court for new custody orders. The moving parent might file for permission to move with the child, or the other parent might file a motion for a change of custody so that the child can stay.

At what age can a child decide which parent to live with in California 2021?

age 14In California, the law allows children age 14 and up to express their parental preference to aid in determining custody. However, no matter the child's age, a judge will consider their preference in evaluating the overall suitability of the custody arrangement.Dec 30, 2021

What are the LaMusga factors?

In In re Marriage of LaMusga, the Court listed the following factors for determining whether to modify a custody order to allow a parent to move away with the child: (1) The reason for the proposed moved; (2) the children's interest in stability and continuity in the custodial arrangement; (3) the distance of the move; ...

What age can a child choose not to visit a parent in Oregon?

18 years oldAt What Age Can a Child Decide Which Parent To Live With? In general, a child cannot legally decide which parent to live with unless they are emancipated or reach the age of majority, that being 18 years old in most states.Aug 31, 2020

Can a mother move a child away from the father?

Can a mother move a child away from the father? Under normal circumstances, a mother cannot move a child away from the father. However, if it is in the child's best interest, it will be allowed. It is best to obtain a court order dealing with the parties' parental responsibilities and rights under the circumstances.

Do you have to pay child support if you have 50/50 custody in California?

You may have to pay child support even with a 50/50 custody agreement if you are the higher-earning parent. This is because the purpose of a child support order is to maintain the standard of living the child would have had if the divorce had never happened.Apr 30, 2021

What is La Musga?

LaMusga Factor Checklist for Parents Seeking to Relocate with Minor Children or Prevent Relocation of Minor Children. The LaMusga Court provided California family judges with a roadmap for deciding whether to modify a custody order in light of a parent's proposal to change the residence of the child.May 21, 2020

How far can I move with joint custody in California?

45 to 50 miles awayHow Far Can I Move With Shared Custody in California? When you have shared custody, you can move – usually up to 45 to 50 miles away – provided that you have agreement from your children's other parent.

Do I need a move away order in California?

California Family Code 7501 gives parents who are “entitled to custody” a presumptive right to move away. This right is not absolute and can be denied if the move is detrimental to the child.Jul 8, 2021

Is Oregon a mom State?

Oregon Custody Law Does Not Favor Either Parent Fathers' rights in Oregon are viewed as equal to mothers' rights. Instead, according to Oregon custody law, courts largely base their decisions on what is in the best interests of the child.

What makes a parent unfit in Oregon?

Oregon law list factors to determine if a parent is unfit, such as abusive, cruel or sexual conduct toward any child; addiction or habitual use of narcotics, alcohol or controlled substances; physical neglect of the child; or mental health condition that renders parent incapable of proper care to the child.

Can a child refuse contact with parent?

Can I refuse contact? Contact should only be refused where there is very good reason for doing so, for instance if there is an issue of safety or violence, when contact could be refused. Refusal to allow a parent to have contact is likely to result in an application being made to court.Apr 30, 2020

Previous Relocation Law

Before the 2015 law, the court used the rulings from two cases ( Schwartz v. Schwartz and Potter v. Potter) to determine whether a parent may relocate with the children.

What About Moving Out of State with Children If I have Joint Custody?

In cases where the parents have joint custody, the relocating parent would need to meet the factors from Potter v. Potter. In the court’s eyes, the parent must satisfy the following requirements.

The Parent Rights Protection Act

Courts often faced confusion in exactly which cases would require the Schwartz factors and which would need the Potter factors. This left the judge with even more subjective decisions.

What does it mean when a child leaves his home state?

As a matter of terminology, a child’s home state is the state where he or she has lived for the last 6 months. That means that state has jurisdiction over custody of the child. If you and the children leave the home state without adequately addressing custody issues, you are removing the child from his or her home state.

Can a judge hold you in contempt of court?

Because you’re violating the current order, a judge would most likely hold you in contempt of court. The judge may also require you to pay the other parent’s attorney’s fees (in addition to your own). More importantly, making a unilateral move could influence how the court views your judgment going forward.

Can you move if you have only minimal visitation?

It may be easier to move if the other parent has only minimal visitation, but it doesn’t mean that you can just pick up and go. You still need to either reach an agreement with the other parent or get the court’s permission with a modified order. Sure, you could take the risk and move without modifying the arrangement. But in the long term, that will probably hurt your case. You could suffer the sanctions mentioned above, and you may also find yourself having to ask the court to forgive your actions.

What to do if you don't have a custody order?

If you do not have a custody order in place and you and your child’s other parent both approve of the move, you should head to court to solidify the arrangement and have it formalized in a child custody order. This holds both of you accountable to your new parenting plan.

What does a judge base their decision on?

The judge will base their decision to approve or deny a relocation based on whether or not the move in your child’s best interests. As the custodial parent, the judge will initially assume that staying in your home and moving with you is in the child’s best interests.

Can you move a child with you?

Relocating a child can be an overwhelming process. When you are the custodial parent of your child, meaning you have full or a majority of physical custody, you may feel like you have the right to take you child with you wherever you move. You are the primary parent, so you should not have to ask for permission.

Can you move out of state if you have custody?

If your custody order does not define geographic limits, then it is safe to assume moving out of state will raise a legal issue with your child’s other parent. Also, moving within state, but several hours away will also likely create tension. In this situation, you should not assume you can move without permission.

Can you move your child to another state in North Carolina?

You and your child’s other parent always have the right to work together for what is best for your child. If you wish to move your child to another region of North Carolina or to a new state entirely, the other parent can agree. If you have a child custody order in place, you should return to court with this agreement to have the order properly modified to reflect the new situation. As long as the new arrangement is within the child’s best interests, the judge will approve it. However, if it is clear the move is not in the child’s best interests, the judge has the right to deny the relocation.

Can a parent move out of state?

Without a legally binding arrangement, a parent can move anywhere, even out of state. The other parent may look at it as a problem or even a kidnapping, but unless the motive is to evade the law, it’s legal.

What is the home state of a child?

Under federal law, the “home state” of the child is usually considered to be the state where the child has lived for the past 6 months. If a parent moves away suddenly or without the consent of the other parent, then the parent who still resides here should immediately consult with an attorney regarding their options.

Can a parent be held in contempt of court?

If a parent moves with the children without a new court order being in place, and this makes it impossible for the other parent to exercise their custodial time with the children under the current order, then the parent who moves can be held in contempt of court.

How to get away from your ex?

To get away from your ex as a form of revenge. To limit your ex's access to the children. To reduce child support. In addition to the motivation of the parent who is looking to relocate, the court will also consider the existing involvement of the other parent when evaluating if a move is reasonable.

How to get a consent order for a child?

Inform your child's other parent. If the other parent consents, have a lawyer help you draft a consent order and submit it to the court. If the other parent does not consent, consider mediation. If mediation doesn't work, file a motion requesting permission from the court to move.

What are the best interests of a child?

Best interest standards vary by state, but generally, you should be able to answer if a move enhances or maintains the following for your kids: 3 1 Consistency in a child's environment and routine 2 The child's health and safety 3 Family bonds 4 What the child wants

What is the primary intention of a court?

1 Quite often, as part of the best interests standards, when the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent head to court over relocation-related disputes, the courts will rule in favor of not disrupting the children's lives any more than necessary.

Who is Andrea Rice?

Andrea Rice is an award-winning journalist and a freelance writer, editor, and fact checker specializing in health and wellness. Learn about our editorial process. Andrea Rice. Updated on April 09, 2021.

Do courts favor moving with kids?

Courts strongly favor maintaining consistency in a child's schedule and environment. That means that if you wish to move with your kids, you will have to prove to the court that the move is in their best interests with regard to other factors that benefit them.

What factors are considered in a child custody case?

The court may consider factors specific to the child, such as the child’s age, sex and development. The court may also consider how close the child’s bond is to each parent and to siblings. If the child is old enough, his or her preferences may be considered by the court.

What does the court consider when awarding custody?

Generally, the court will consider the best interests of the child when determining to whom and in what manner to award custody. The factors that the court looks at are usually based on a family law that specifies relevant factors or case law in which judges have stated in past cases what factors can influence their decisions.

What is sole custody?

Sole custody is when one parent has nearly all of the rights and responsibilities related to raising the child. Some states differentiate between physical and legal custody. Legal custody means the right of the parent to make decisions for the child.