Post-Divorce Legal Issues

The divorce is over, the legal issues have been decided, and you and your ex-spouse move on. You may think that ends your need for legal assistance as regards child custody, child support, or other divorce issues that have been spelled out in your divorce agreement. Years may pass with little thought about the matter until you decide to relocate with your children to another state. You and your ex-spouse may have joint custody involving parenting plans. These plans will be disrupted by your move. You may wish to relocate due to remarriage, a career move, or to be nearer your own family. In order to do so, however, you may have to go before a Family Court judge to gain permission to do so.

The relocation of a custodial parent is a common post-divorce matter which requires the determination of the court. Often, such a move will create a negative impact on the other parent's relationship with the child or children involved and that parent will seek legal action to block such a relocation.

How Parental Relocation is Decided by the Courts

In the issue of parental relocation, the court will consider numerous factors in order to ultimately decide what is in the best interests of the child or children involved. These factors include the reasons for the relocation by the parent who wishes to move, the reasons for opposing that relocation by the other parent, what kind of relationship exists between the child or children with both the custodial and the noncustodial parent, how such a proposed move will affect the relationship between the child and the noncustodial parent in both quality and quantity of time spent, how such a proposed move will affect the child emotionally, economically, and educationally, how likely it is that the child will be able to maintain a relationship with the noncustodial parent, what the wishes of the child may be, and how stable the child's life may be in either scenario.

The matter of parental relocation can be a complicated one. If you are a custodial or noncustodial parent involved in this type of situation, it is important that you have the knowledgeable advice and legal representation of an attorney experienced and skilled in dealing with such issues. A Long Island divorce lawyer at Wisselman, Harounian & Associates can provide competent and caring legal assistance in helping you present an effective case to a Family Court judge. The firm has handled thousands of divorce and family law cases involving all issues related to this often complicated and emotionally challenging field of practice.