Sharing custody can limit your freedom in some ways after a divorce. You have to take the custody order into account. If your ex also has parental rights and/or assigned parenting time, it needs to be respected.
For example, it can sometimes be difficult to move. If you want to move to another state or a significant distance away from your ex, they may complain that it would violate their parental rights. They won’t realistically be able to see their children or exchange custody, and the schedule that was ordered by the court can’t be upheld.
Potential reasons to move
But this doesn’t mean that a move is always impossible. Often, the court will simply want to see if there’s a good reason for that move, ensuring that you are not trying to put distance between your ex and your children out of spite. They want to see a good-faith reason why you think the move is necessary and why the child custody arrangement should be modified.
One reason for this could be if you want to move closer to extended family members. This can sometimes be helpful after a divorce, especially if you need assistance raising the children. Another potential reason is if you’ve been offered a job or accepted into a college or university. You may want to take that job or advance your education, both things which can improve your quality of living. Finally, some people just move to look for a lower cost of living when things get too expensive in one area.
At the end of the day, the court usually wants to see that the move would be beneficial for the child. If you’re working your way through this process, make sure you know what legal steps to take to avoid violating any court orders.
