Fort Worth, TX Child Relocation Attorney

Guiding You Through Child Relocation in Fort Worth, TX

In many cases, a parent who gets divorced or chooses to separate from their co-parent wants a fresh start. It is normal to want to move away to a new area in order to get the new beginning you want. Remaining in your marital hometown may subject you to unpleasant reminders of your former partner. You may run into their friends or family members at your favorite local hangouts. While it is understandable that many divorced and separated parents want to relocate, doing so can create some complications in your child custody arrangements. The court will want to consider a number of factors in order to determine whether moving away is in the best interests of the child.

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. is committed to helping parents maintain close and loving relationships with their children after a divorce or separation. Our legal team is experienced in helping parents who want to relocate and those whose co-parents are planning to relocate. While relocation can make child custody arrangements a little more logistically complicated, it is often possible for both parents to enjoy quality time with their children despite the move.

Factors Texas Courts Consider When One Parent Relocates

When parents live far apart from one another, it is very likely that one parent will have primary custody and the other will have visitation during school holidays. This is for simply logistical and practical reasons. Unless you have a plan to homeschool your child and share those responsibilities equally, the child will likely need to be with one parent most of the time to ensure that their education is not interrupted.

Factors the court will consider when one parent asks to relocate with their child include:

• Reasons for the move - Why you wish to relocate is important. If the other parent has committed family violence or harassment against you, and the move is for safety reasons, the court is more likely to support it. Or, if the move is because you have a much better job opportunity that will allow you to provide for your child's needs, this may help as well.
• Child's ability to adjust - How well your child will likely adjust to the move matters. If your child has a condition like autism or strong ties to the community that might make adjustment difficult, the court may want to keep the child in a familiar environment. If the child is excited about moving, this may help the relocating parent's case.
• Opportunities for the child - Will the child gain the opportunity to spend time with grandparents or other relatives after the move? Is the parent moving to a better school district, or would the child have other unique opportunities after the move?
• Child's age, health, and needs - How the relocation would impact the parents' ability to meet the child's needs is important. While a healthy baby would likely have no trouble moving, an older child with specific medical needs that are currently being addressed by a local healthcare team may not benefit from leaving the area.
• Impact on the child's relationship with both parents - Has the parent seeking to relocate been uncooperative about helping the child stay close to the other parent? Is the relocating parent willing to help with the expenses associated with transporting the child for visitation, or are they agreeable to scheduling regular video calls with the other parent?
• Child's current relationship with both parents - Often, one parent is the primary caregiver who spends more time caring for the child. If the parent seeking to relocate works full-time or odd hours and mainly sees the children in the evenings, the court may be more reluctant to let the children move with that parent.

These are only a few of the major factors courts will consider when determining whether one parent should be able to relocate and retain primary custody. Any other issues that affect a child's best interests may play a role in determining whether a move will be allowed.

Contact a Fort Worth Child Relocation Lawyer

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. will take the time to understand how each factor will apply to your case so that we can make the strongest possible arguments on your behalf. Attorney J. Kevin Clark, a dedicated family law attorney, will do all he can to help you remain close to your children despite the relocation of one parent. Contact us at 817-348-6723 for a complimentary consultation.