How a Divorce & Child Custody Agreement Affects Your Relocation Plans

Relocating After a Divorce: How To Keep Seeing Your Kids

Your divorce and child custody agreement cannot account for everything that might happen in your future. You could lose your job. You could get remarried. You may need to move to pursue other work opportunities or to be closer to your new spouse’s family or your own. But now that you are divorced, you can’t just make the decision to move away on your own – not if you want to keep seeing your kids and not if you don’t want to end up in legal trouble.

You’ll need to talk to a Glendale divorce attorney to learn more about the best steps to take if you are trying to relocate. But here are a few things you’ll lawyer will likely discuss with you:

Complying With The Current Custody Agreement

You cannot just decide to take the kids and go. Your current custody agreement has given your co-parent the right to be with the kids for a certain amount of time each week. If you suddenly live out of state, they won’t be able to see the kids as scheduled.

You must comply with any current custody agreement you have, or else you could face legal consequences. Do not start making plans to move until you have obtained the necessary permissions.

Modifying The Existing Custody Order

You will need to modify your existing custody order to be able to move out of the area with your children. You’ll need to hire a child custody lawyer, and you may need to go before the court. You could end up settling on a new agreement with your co-parent with the help of your lawyer, or you could have to fight it out in court.

When you prepare for the relocation hearing, you’ll need to think through the argument you are going to make. The court will look at what is in the best interests of your children. You’ll need to show how your move will be in their best interests, and you’ll need to be able to suggest a new child custody arrangement that will still meet your children’s needs. You may need to prepare to give up big chunks of time, such as summer vacations and winter holidays.

Creating a New Parenting Plan

Your new parenting plan will need to be specific. It will need to include regularly scheduled days that your children will spend with their co-parent so that they may maintain that important relationship. You’ll need to specify what days your children will see both parents.

You should also be specific in your new parenting plan how your children will stay in touch with their co-parent when they are not visiting. That can include regular communication through phone calls, Skype, email, and more. Including this information in your new parenting plan will show the courts that you are committed to nurturing that relationship between your children and their other parent, despite the distance. Having a thoughtful and comprehensive plan ready will increase your chances of having the relocation and the new parenting plan approved.

Parenting doesn’t end, and co-parenting won’t end just because you got a divorce or your circumstances changed. Know that you may need to work with a Glendale child custody lawyer and modify your parenting agreement if you have to move or if other life circumstances change. If your co-parent is the one who is threatening to move away and take the children with them, know that you have rights. You should work with a child custody lawyer to block the relocation if it is not in the best interests of your children, and you should fight for a parenting plan that will protect your relationship with them.

Hire a Professional Divorce Lawyer In Glendale, AZ

Call My AZ Lawyers if you are embroiled in a custody dispute because you or your co-parent are considering relocating. Our attorneys can help you protect your rights and get the right parenting plan. We can help you win approval for a move, or we can work to help you block a co-parent from moving your children out-of-state. We’ll review the circumstances of your case and help you figure out the best strategy for success. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a child custody attorney and learn more about your legal options.