Family Law Attorney
Parent Relocation FAQ

Serving Detroit, Ann Arbor and all of Michigan

I have been offered a job in another state. How do I get the court's permission to move out of state with my child?
To get court permission to move out of state with your child, you must petition the court for a change to your permanent order. The court will hear your case, and make a decision based on a number of different factors. An experienced family law attorney can help you handle your change in permanent order.

I am a non-custodial parent. Do I have to petition the court in order to relocate?
No. As a non-custodial parent, you are under no obligation to remain in state. However, to preserve your visitation rights with your child, you can petition the court for a change to permanent orders that would allow for a modification of visitation that would be more convenient for you and your child.

How can I prevent my child's other parent from moving out of state with my child?
If your child's other parent is considering relocating to another state, and you would like to prevent that, it is important that you seek the counsel of an experienced family law attorney as soon as possible, to review your case with you and help you form a compelling argument against the relocation.

If my former spouse relocates to another state, do I have grounds to file for custody?
Not necessarily. The court will hear your case when considering the relocation, and will determine whether the custodial parent may move out of state with the child, and under what conditions.

However, your spouse's request to move out of state is not considered sufficient grounds to challenge the custody order. In order to sue for custody, you must show that there has been some other change of circumstances that necessitates reconsidering the custody arrangements.

If the court does allow your spouse to move to another state, in most cases, the non-custodial parent will be afforded longer visitation times, such as during summer break, in lieu of their weekly visits.

Other questions?
If you have any questions not answered here, or if you would like to discuss your case with an experienced family law attorney, call or click here to schedule your free personal, confidential consultation with an experienced child custody attorney.