What are the primary issues in a Louisville relocation child custody case? What happens when co-parents are sharing custody and visitation of their child(ren) during or after a divorce and one of the parents needs to or wishes to relocate. Can a parent take a child or children and move away from Louisville and/or the State of Kentucky?
Parents who share custody and visitation should know by now that Kentucky family law is focused upon the best interests, health and wellness of the child. Some of the primary issues in a Louisville relocation child custody case include but are not limited to:
- The existing rhythms of the child(ren) and present custody orders
- The existing relationship between each child and co-parent
- The specific reason for the move or relocation
- The health, family and friend support, educational and economical advantages a child experiences in one locale versus the other
- The age and health of the child(ren)
- The existing relationship and communication patterns of the co-parents
- The behavior of each co-parent towards the relationship of the other co-parent and the child(ren)
- The age and maturity of the child and their stated preference
The Court must balance all of the primary issues in a Louisville relocation child custody case with the benefits of a child remaining in place and the impact each of these options would have upon the relationship between each child and co-parent. The Court will not prevent a parent from relocation, but the decision of a co-parent to move away will definitely affect existing child custody and visitation orders.
If a parent has sole custody of a child, relocation is a much more straightforward process. Kentucky recognizes it is almost always in the best interests of a child to have roughly equal “quality” time with each of their parents. The needs of a child to have a healthy relationship with each co-parent is a strong position for maintaining the status quo.
Each move away and relocation child custody and visitation case is different. If you wish to take the child(ren) and relocate or if you have heard the other co-parent is considering a move you need the proven advice and counsel of the divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd.
We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and contact us or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced divorce and family law attorneys.
