When you share a child with someone in Connecticut and want to move away and take your child with you, there are certain steps you must take before you may do so. First, you need to try to get permission from your child’s other parent. If he or she refuses your request to relocate, you may need to ask the state’s family court system to step in.
According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch, if you take your relocation request to court, there are certain things you must demonstrate for the court to consider granting your request.
What you must prove to relocate
If you want to relocate with your child, you must demonstrate, through a “preponderance of evidence,” that your desire to move is for a legitimate reason. You also need to show that the place you plan to move to is reasonable, given your current situation, and that relocating is in your son or daughter’s best interests.
What the court considers when deciding
When the courts decide whether to grant your relocation request, they typically consider you and the child’s other parent’s reasons for wanting or refusing the relocation request. The existing relationships that exist between you and your child and your ex and your child may also fall under the microscope. So, too, does whether the move would impact your child’s education, finances and emotional stability.
Please note that while this gives you an overview of what Connecticut courts consider when you ask to relocate with your child, this is not a comprehensive summary of all areas the family court system may review.
