Child Custody Modification Attorneys in Sterling Heights

The attorneys at Iafrate & Salassa, P.C., have years of experience handling custody modifications, including complex change of domicile matters involving interstate relocations. Learn how their deduction and knowledge can help you too.

Do I Need the Court’s Permission to Move after a Divorce? 

If one parent wants to move out of Michigan with the children, he or she must get permission from the court first. The court will need to approve the move; however, serious legal issues can come up even if the court does approve the move. If parents have joint legal custody, one parent cannot move the child’s primary residence more than 100 miles from the approved legal residence without permission of the courts. 

Criteria Used to Decide Change of Domicile Matters

When deciding on a modification for couples with joint legal custody, Michigan courts will consider five different factors in their decision process. The questions they will consider include:

• Will this move improve the quality of the child’s life and of the parent relocating?
• Is one parent looking to make this move or challenging the relocation due to a desire to gain a financial advantage over the other? On a related note, they will look at whether there are child support issues or not.
• Is one parent initiating the relocation in order to keep the other parent from having too much parenting time with the child?
• Is there any history of domestic violence between the couples, regardless of whether the child is involved or not?
• What is the likelihood that the non-custodial parent will still have parenting time with the child once the other parent moves? Will the parenting time still be a way to help foster and preserve the parent/child relationship?

Retaining a Michigan Family Law Attorney

If you are the parent who is staying behind, you may have a lot of questions about whether your ex can legally move out of state and how to prevent him or her from taking your child. You may already be subject to an approved change of domicile modification order and wondering how you can get your child back to Michigan.

At Iafrate & Salassa, P.C., we can help either parent, no matter whether you are the one seeking the custody modification or are trying to keep your ex from moving out of state with your children. Contact our office to schedule a consultation and let our skilled attorneys help resolve your current legal needs.