Relocation can become difficult if you are a co-parent who shares custody of your child. You may need to ask for the custody arrangement to be modified.
For example, say that you and your ex live about 30 minutes apart. You exchange the children on a 3-2-2 schedule, so there are multiple exchanges during the week. But you want to move to another city that is five hours away. This may make such frequent exchanges impossible, so the custody arrangement has to be modified in order for you to move. You cannot simply take your child and move to the other city, as failing to make the exchanges would violate your ex’s parental rights.
Good faith reasons
When you petition the court to modify the arrangement due to a relocation, they may ask you for a good-faith reason. They are simply trying to determine if there is a legitimate reason for you to move and to make sure that you are not doing it just to interfere with your ex’s custody rights. Some potential reasons include:
- Getting an offer for a new job, especially if it comes with a raise
- Finding a new place to live, especially if it provides a lower cost of living, which can be beneficial to both you and the child
- Living closer to extended family members, especially if they are going to be able to help with childcare after the divorce
- Returning to school to finish your degree, especially if you believe that will increase your earning potential and give the child more financial stability
These are just a few examples, but they help you see the types of things the court may be looking for. Be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take when modifying a custody order.
