Divorce is hard on the entire family. Not only does it break the family apart, but it disrupts each member’s mental, emotional, and financial stability. There are different ways of coping with legal separation or divorce, and some ex-spouses decide to move away. It is a common way people react after divorce. The process can be depressing, and by moving away from the bad memories, an individual may believe that it will be easier to start fresh.
Moving away is not an easy decision, and things get extremely complicated when a divorced couple has children to consider. When a parent decides to move away with the child, the other parent may object as it will affect the visitation schedule set by the Court. See California Family Code section 7501.
Move-away child custody cases are the most challenging cases the Family Law Court must handle. It is not just overwhelming for the family but even for the Judge who must give the final decision, which may keep one parent away from their child because the court cannot prevent a parent from moving.