Many single parents in the Los Angeles area may have to move at some point after they have a child custody order in place.
Job opportunities, family concerns and other issues may pull them away from Southern California, and they may even have to leave the state altogether.
Moreover, in a city the size of Los Angeles, even a cross-town move can easily be over an hour away.
The first thing a person should do if they have custody of their children and need to move is look over their current custody and parenting time order.
The order might specify what parents should do if they need to move. It may also set out whether certain moves, like a move only a short distance, for example, are automatically allowed.
Whether a parent can move may depend on joint custody
Importantly, the order will also say whether the parent who wants to move has joint or sole legal custody.
In a joint legal custody arrangement, both parents have decision-making authority. The upshot is that both parents must agree to a move, or the parent who wants to move will need the court’s permission.
On the other hand, if a parent has sole legal custody, they can decide whether to move. The other parent will have to ask for a change in the custody arrangement if they object.
As a word of caution, laws and the court order might require that a parent who has sole legal custody give notice before a move.
Either way, a parent who has to move may have to convince a judge the move is in the best interest in the child. A parent may want to seek legal counsel who will help them build their case.
