Interstate Relocation & Custody

Austin Parental Relocation Lawyers

Texas Parent and Child Interstate Relocation Issues

When you and your spouse decided to get a divorce, you suddenly went from seeing your kids every day to once during the week and every other weekend. Now that the custodial parent has decided to relocate to another state, even this already diminished time together with your children may be further reduced. What rights do you have in terms of visitation if the other parent decides to leave the state or even the country? If you work with one of the experienced family law attorneys at Bertolino LLP, we will answer all of your questions and make sure you are enjoying all of the visitation rights afforded to you under the law.

One of the most important things to know is that one parent cannot simply decide one day to move to the other side of the country. If you want to move with your children to another state and more than 100 miles away from the custodial parent, you must provide sixty days' notice of your relocation plans. This offers some important time to work through visitation schedules, travel arrangements, vacations and holidays. If you have a civil relationship with your former spouse, it is in the best interest of the children to work through these issues with as much clarity and fairness as possible.

The Uniform Child Custody and Enforcement Act (UCCEA) was put into place a little over a decade ago and offers important protections for your custody rights if your children move away. In addition to the sixty days of notification mentioned above, the UCCEA maintains that Texas will continue to be the preferred state that dictates the enforcement of your custody case. This means that you may not have to fight a legal battle in a distant state should concerns over your visitation rights arise.

There are times in which one parent wants to move to another country, usually due to family connections or a professional opportunity, and in this case there are additional legal issues to consider. An attorney at Bertolino LLP is experienced with immigration law and how it affects families. We also are prepared to protect your visitation rights through the Hague Convention and through the channels of the State Department if needed.

Learning that your precious children will soon be living in a part of the country that is many hours from where you live is difficult to accept and you may be worried that your time with them will be painfully limited. Please allow a knowledgeable family law attorney at Bertolino LLP work with you to protect your rights as a parent and make sure that your long-distance connection will be as strong as possible.