In the years after your divorce, it is certainly possible that you may decide that it is time to relocate. Maybe you just need a change of scenery. Maybe you have always wanted to move, but your spouse did not, so you stayed with them until the marriage ended.
This can create some complications since you are now divorced. If the two of you do not have children, there should not be any issues. But if you are parents and you share custody rights, then you may need to ask the court to modify your child custody order so that you can relocate.
For example, it may be easy to exchange the children every other week when you and your ex live in the same city. But if you move to another city or another state, then it becomes impossible to make the exchanges on that schedule. To avoid violating the court order, you need to look into getting a modification.
Good faith reasons
There are many steps in this process, but the court may want to see good faith reasons why you are moving before they authorize the modification. Some potential examples include:
- Living closer to your extended family members
- Taking a job that you have been offered
- Attending school at a college or university
- Finding a new living situation that better fits your budget
The key is to demonstrate why the relocation would be in the child’s best interests. As you work your way through this process, it is very important that you understand exactly what legal obligations you have and what steps to take before relocating.