Relocations

Arizona Parental Relocation

Optimal child custody and visitation arrangements are challenging to work out between separated or divorced spouses even under the best of circumstances. Contact an experienced Arizona family law attorney at the law offices of Gillespie, Shields & Durrant to schedule a consultation regarding any aspect of child custody, including a proposed removal by the custodial parent.

Even when parents live in the same community, shared child custody is often difficult.

While most people recognize the importance of parent-child bonds between children and both of their parents (mother and father), it is also often hard for children to move often between two different neighborhoods or communities. Parents may be challenged by the constant transportation issues and disruptions that joint custody or frequent visitation entail.

Parenting time balance in move-away (relocation) situations is even tougher.

Once a workable balance is achieved when parents have joint custody or when the child visits the non-custodial parent on a regular basis, it can be all the more difficult to maintain a sense of stability when one parent wishes to move away. If the custodial parent relocates outside the area where both parents have lived and shared custody, heartbreaking decisions may need to be made.

Preserving Parental Bonds

Reasonable, thoughtful parents who put their children's interests first can often find a way to protect parent-child bonds despite the increased distance brought about by parental relocation. When one parent is planning to move out of state or perhaps even across the country, a family law court may expect to see a post decree modification agreement that includes less frequent but longer visits with the non-custodial parent.

Arizona statute 25-408 outlines the steps that a custodial parent must take when planning to relocate. To discuss the legal requirements that a court will impose on a relocating divorced mother or father in Arizona, contact us and speak with one of our lawyers.

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