Relocation: How it Might Affect Your Custody Agreement

Once a divorce is finalized and a custody arrangement is agreed upon, many parents think that they are free to do anything and go anywhere they like – so long as they have their children to the other parent at the agreed upon place and time. This is especially true when a move is involved.

Oftentimes, when a parent decides to relocate, they don’t feel a need to talk with their ex about it, and more often than not, they don’t even mention the move until after it is finalized. Not discussing a move with your child’s other parent though can be detrimental to your parental status, and can cause a major disruption in the custody agreement.

If you are moving within a few miles of your current location, you should still discuss it with your child’s other parent, but it should not be a big deal. However, if you are considering a move farther than 50 miles, the situation can become complex. Changes to almost all of the original agreement will have to implemented – everything from visitation, to time sharing and child support—even if you weren’t paying child support before. If you are considering moving out of Florida, matters can grow even stickier.

People move for various reasons: They don’t like the neighborhood they’re in; they get a new job; the schools are better in the new area; housing is cheaper; it’s just time. When you’re single, and you don’t have kids, your reasons for relocation are no one’s business but your own. However, you do have children, and this move will affect them, which is why it is best to speak to a Jacksonville Beach lawyer before anything is set in stone. A lawyer can help you follow the law and protect your rights to move – in the best interests of your child – and to avoid all the hassle and legal problems that are bound to arise if you move on the sly.

If you are considering moving, get the advice of an experienced, knowledgeable lawyer first, or check out our page, Child Custody and Relocation Cases – What You Should Know, at http://www.jacksonvillebeachlawyer.com/jacksonville-beach-family-law-attorney/child-custody-relocation.html