Moving can help people rebuild after a divorce, but it also can create a new set of complications. A relocation when parents share custody can cause numerous challenges.
If one parent moves to a new home, the travel time for custody exchanges may increase significantly. In some cases, driving back and forth between the homes may no longer be a realistic option for regular exchanges.
Not only do parents potentially need to modify their custody schedule to address a parental relocation, but they may also need to address the expenses involved in traveling back and forth between parental homes. How can parents address increased transportation expenses in a relocation scenario?
Support orders influence travel costs
Parents can potentially reach their own agreements regarding adjustments to the parenting schedule and responsibility for travel expenses. However, disputes about parental relocations in shared custody scenarios are relatively common.
If the parents disagree about how to adjust the parenting schedule and assign financial responsibility for travel costs, then the courts may intervene. Under current standard procedures in Kentucky, responsibility for travel costs may mirror the child support arrangements.
The courts may look at the amount of support paid when addressing travel costs. While the parents may need to share those expenses, the parent with less overnight parenting time may ultimately end up covering more of the travel expenses than the parent who relocates.
Even an amicable, uncontested relocation case has significant legal and financial implications. Reviewing current arrangements and plans with a family law attorney can help parents address the unique challenges of living separately while parenting cooperatively.
