If you get divorced and you don’t have children, you don’t need to provide a reason to move and live somewhere new. You are simply free to do whatever you want, no matter where your ex lives.
However, if you do have children, then the court may have ordered that the two of you have to share custody. If so, then you have to honor that custody order. This can sometimes restrict your ability to move. After all, your ex would not be able to see the children on the same schedule if you were to move out of the state, for example.
In some cases, you can ask the court for permission to allow the move, on the grounds that it would actually be in the child’s best interests. You simply have to provide good-faith reasons why this is true.
4 reasons people often give for moving
The specific reasons for your move are going to be unique to your situation, but here are four general reasons that people will sometimes use:
- They need to move because they’ve been offered a job that will allow for a higher standard of living.
- They are moving because they need to live closer to extended family members who want to have a relationship with the child and help to raise them.
- They have to move because they’re looking for a lower cost of living and this is the only way to achieve it.
- They are going to be furthering their education or returning to school, and they have to move to attend classes.
These examples also help to show you the general focus of the court, which is to ensure that the move is being done for a valid reason and not simply to prevent the other person from being involved with the children. Parents in this situation must understand the necessary legal steps to take to protect their interests.
