Sometimes, a change in location is just the thing you need to radically transform your life — and the life of your child. Maybe you’re in Florida, and your career specialty doesn’t have any opportunities here. Maybe you received a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity that will pay you so much more income that it will improve the kind of life you can provide for your kids.
All of these possibilities sound incredible — unless you’re a co-parent who has to consider the wishes of the other parent before you make a move. In most parenting agreements and court orders that involve shared legal custody, the noncustodial parent will hold a lot of power when it comes to the other parent moving away. A simple “no” is all that’s required for the other parent to put a stop to the move.
However, even if the other parent is saying “no,” you might have a fighting chance under the right factual circumstances. If you can convince the court that the move is in the best interest of your child, you might still be able to relocate. What’s vital is that the court fully understands and clearly believes that a significantly better life awaits your child in the new location. To achieve this, you have to show that not only will your child benefit economically, but he or she will also benefit emotionally and psychologically. If the noncustodial parent is not very involved in the life of the child, and a significantly improved, new life awaits, then you’ll probably have a better chance at success.
Learn more about child relocation by visiting our website. It’s not possible in all cases, but you shouldn’t give up on this idea until you’ve exhausted all your legal avenues.