Parental Relocations & Your Long Distance Parenting Plan

As a parental relocation and Tampa child custody attorney, we have represented parents who have needed to relocate in their jobs and for other reasons due to changes in our economy. In Florida, it is important that you get permission from the courts to relocate and part of that process will be coming up with an agreeable long distance parenting plan. In Florida, many divorced and unmarried parents who share time do so in accordance with a long distance parenting plan. These parenting plans differ from the typical parenting plans and apply when parents who share time live in excess of 50 miles from one another. Whether you are relocating with a minor child, or you are unmarried and you are establishing paternity with a parent who lives in excess of 50 miles, hiring an experienced family law attorney in Tampa Bay  will be highly beneficial. This helps to ensure that your long distance parenting plan is in your best interest and  in the best interest of your minor children.

Relocating with a Minor Child and Florida Law

If you or your child’s other parent needs to or desires to relocate with your minor child, a long distance parenting plan should ensure that both parents can remain actively involved in your child’s life. Even if both parents agree to a parental relocation, you must have this modification approved by a Judge who will take into consideration the specifics of your parenting plan. Whether you wish to relocate, or you want to contest a parental relocation, it is wise to consult with a seasoned Tampa child custody attorney who can provide focused legal counsel.

The Cost of Relocation & Long Distance Parenting

Aside from the best interests of the children, the costs associated with long distance timesharing should be specific and will be considered. Depending on the distance and the specifics of your situation, you will have to consider who will be responsible for the cost of travel. Airfare, fuel, lodging, time away from work or other expenses related to long distance shared parenting must be considered. Additionally, the age and the needs of the children can come into consideration. Every child custody and parental relocation case in Tampa Bay is unique, so there may be several factors that effect any modification and long distance parenting plan. The goal is to ensure that you can comply with the timesharing modification and that both parents can continue to maintain and/or foster a healthy relationship with the children.

Florida Law – Relocation and Long Distance Parenting Plans

Florida Law requires that at a minimum, any parent who is relocating
must describe in adequate detail the following: (Source/ https://www.flcourts.org/)

How the parties will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the upbringing of the child(ren),

• The time-sharing schedule that specifies the time that the minor child(ren) will spend with each parent and every other person entitled to access or time-sharing, A designation of who will be responsible for any and all forms of health care, school-related matters, including the address to be used for school-boundary determination and registration, other activities,
• The methods and technologies that the parties will use to communicate with the child(ren), and
• Any transportation arrangements related to access or time-sharing.

There are many more requirements and the above information are minimum requirements. Remember, in any relocation with a minor child case in Florida, the courts will look to the best interests of the child(ren) and it should be reflected in detail in any Parenting Plan. In a parental relocation case in Florida, the long distance parenting plan will likely be scrutinized by the courts to ensure the same.

Contact Tampa Family Law & Parental Relocation Attorney Nilo J Sanchez & Associates

If you have questions or if you need to consult with an experienced child custody lawyer about a parental relocation matter in Tampa Bay, please message us below or call 813-879-4600. Attorney Sanchez & Associates has specialized in Florida Family Law for over 2 decades. If you have been served with a Supplemental Petition to Permit Relocation with Minor Child(ren) and need to speak with us, please call us for a consultation. We understand this can be a highly emotional time but it is important that your first steps in response to this are the right ones, “Because Nothing is More Important than Your Family.” If you need to relocate and you believe this will be in the best interest of your children consulting with a Tampa child custody lawyer who has experience in parental relocation cases will be highly beneficial.