Parent Relocation — Louisville, Kentucky, Attorneys

Lives change, careers change and priorities change for everyone, including unmarried parents. Sometimes, those changes mean moving to a new neighborhood, a new city, a new state or even a new country. If the parent whose home is the child's primary residence wants to move away, however, then he or she will first have to take the rights and wishes of the other parent into account.

At Sitlinger, McGlincy, Theiler & Karem, we handle vital family law issues like parent relocation with empathy and skill. For a free consultation, call 502-410-3847 or contact us online.

Any fit parent has the right to see his or her children. If the parent with custody of the children moves far enough away, it can become difficult or impossible for the non-custodial parent to see the children. Because the law says children should see both parents, these parent relocations must be approved by the court.

Parent Relocation From One State to Another: the UCCJA

Before the Uniform Child Custody and Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) was passed in 1968, parents who moved with their children to a new state were able to take advantage of a gaping loophole: The new state didn't have to honor the terms of the original child custody arrangement. The parent with custody could petition the new state to change the arrangement to his or her advantage.

This actually gave custodial parents an incentive to kidnap their own children and flee to a new state. Not only did it mean that non-custodial parents were being unfairly disenfranchised, it also drained the resources of many state courts. To solve this problem, the states enacted the UCCJA, a set of laws that gives the states a way to honor each others' custody decrees.

While these laws are good for ensuring that all parents are treated fairly, they are also highly complex, and it requires a good deal of knowledge and experience to maneuver with them. If you are facing issues related to parent relocation, whether it's a post-decree modification or if you never married the other parent, the lawyers at Sitlinger, McGlincy, Theiler & Karem can help you reach a fair solution.

For a free initial consultation, call 502-410-3847 or contact us online.