While some Arizona residents may remain in their same communities or even their same homes throughout their lives, others will follow their families or their careers to new places for new adventures. Moving can be hard on individuals but many choose to undertake relocations so that they can enjoy new experiences and advancements in their personal and professional lives. Relocations can, however, complicate child custody plans when parents must pick up and move to locations that are far from their kids.
When a parent is facing relocation, there are several different ways that their child custody matters may resolve. Much will depend on if they have sole custody of their child or if they share custody with their ex-partner. In most cases a parent who wishes to relocate with or without their child must give the other parent at least 45 days’ written notice of their intentions to move.
A parent who receives notice of a pending relocation can challenge the relocation. Courts look to protect the best interests of children, and if relocation will violate the child’s needs or interests it may be possible for the challenging parent to stop it. Whether relocation can be stopped will be determined on a case by case basis and readers should not expect any particular outcome when they go to court on such matters.
It can be hard for parents to balance their personal and professional lives with the needs of their children, especially when they must share those kids with former partners. Relocation is a complicated matter and can have repercussions on the lives of individuals who must work within the limits of established child custody and family law orders.