Single Parenting & Moving???

[patricia024]

Hi Everyone,
I have a question for any single parents or others who may give me advice. I have full-custody of my 16-year old son (since he was age 5) and live in Michigan. His dad also lives here; 1/2 hour away.

I met a wonderful man this summer in Tennessee. However, he is from Texas but travels for work. He considers my place a "home". We would like to eventually move to get married and move to Tennessee because I have family there (a "little" house we could rent and a place to work at their nursery), his kids are in Texas and my son's dad is in Michigan. We consider to be in the "middle".

Do you think I have to have my ex-'s permission to take my son out of state? I may be losing my job soon due to my blind student moving to another school district. So, would having a job available in Tennessee be a good reason to move? Also, it's cheaper to live down in Tennessee. Would that be a consideration? My son wants to move. He's going to be a junior next school year but absolutely loves it in Tennessee by his cousins. Plus, he gets to work there and make money. He's begged me for years to not send him to his dad's house on weekends. I don't know that if that could also be used as a consideration.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this and if I even have a chance to move out of Michigan. (I'm hoping to get to the Friend of the Court office today but with all of the ice we've had, it's not looking like a possibility to get there.)

Thanks for any help you can give. Sorry it's so long but other than F.O.C., I wanted to get some personal opinions on this.

Patti

 

[marnold]

Patti,

I am short on the advice but I would definitely look to your divorce/custody papers. If nothing was decreed, I guess you would be okay for a move. Maybe you should contact your lawyer on this one to be safe.

Take care and good luck.

 

[allwildgirl]

My agreement states that I'm not allowed to move more than a certain distance away from my DD's dad, so I would check your papers if I were you.

 

[peanut1129]

I agree with what everyone else has said..you should call you lawyer/check your papers and I am no way qualified to give you real legal advice. BUT, usually your ability to be gainfully employed is taken into consideration. If you are losing your job the court would consider your ability to get a similar job in your current state. Keep in mind that it will be their opinion and not your's--so you may feel you have no available options and they may disagree. Your son is probably old enough that they probably will take his feelings into consideration. Usually the court will look at the whole package. Again, this is assuming you don't already have something existing in your custody agreement.

Good Luck!

 

[patricia024]

Thanks for your taking the time to read my message and for writing responses!

I went to a walk-in "Question & Answer" today at the Friend of the Court office. Basically, if my ex- says it's ok, we just sign some papers and my son and I are on our way. If he disagrees, I can go in front of the judge (and I don't need a lawyer, thankfully) and express the "Why's" of why I want to move; taking into consideration, "Will it better my son and I?" or "Is it for a job", etc.

So, I'm going to talk to my ex-'s wife sometime. She had actually suggested to me while we were at my son's hockey game a month ago the fact that we may be moving to Texas. She obviously was ok with my son moving. I'll "work" on her! lol

Thanks again for your replyies. I appreciate it.
Patti