Glendale Move-Away Lawyer
Glendale Move-Away Attorney
Joint custody is very common in California and throughout the country. While it’s beneficial for the child to maintain a relationship with both parents, shared custody complicates things when one parent wants to relocate. Fortunately, a Glendale move-away lawyer makes all the difference. If you’re in a custody battle or attempting to relocate while needing to coparent, Patricia Rigdon can help you navigate these tricky waters.
What Is a Move-Away Lawyer?
A move-away lawyer is a family law attorney in Glendale, CA, who works with child custody cases when one parent requests to “move away” or relocate with a child, thus impacting the other parent’s custody and/or visitation rights. A Glendale move-away lawyer is well-versed in California move-away laws, understanding the ins and outs of the Golden State’s statutes and precedents.
A move-away lawyer assists with the following:
- Requesting court approval to relocate or fighting relocation if requested by the other parent
- Establishing or modifying parenting plans
- Preparing legal notices and requests
- Gathering evidence to demonstrate that the move is in the best interest of the child
- Representing their client in court
Patricia Rigdon focuses on these services, helping her clients find a solution that works for them.
Why Hire a Move-Away Lawyer?
There are several reasons to hire a move-away lawyer, even when the divorce feels amicable. This type of divorce lawyer in Glendale focuses on the following:
- Analyzing your custody agreement to figure out what is required
- Drafting a relocation notice or submitting a formal request to the court
- Collecting information supporting your request, which may include information on school districts, job offers, and local neighborhoods
- Soliciting other professionals to speak on your behalf, such as teachers, therapists, and relatives
- Submitting a comprehensive report detailing how the other parent’s relationship will be fostered and preserved
- Requesting temporary orders until the dispute is resolved
- Working with the other parent to establish future plans (such as visitation during holiday break or summer vacation)
- Arguing in front of a judge on your behalf
- Helping move-away disputes feel less out of your control
The Importance of a Move-Away Lawyer in California
Studies suggest that relocation isn’t rare in divorce; roughly 29% of custodial parents move at least an hour away by the time their children go to college. In California, relocation is particularly common; due to the high cost of living and lower-than-average job market, people are fleeing the state for Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Washington.
Going out of state, rather than simply relocating to an adjacent or nearby town, muddies the waters even further, requiring a Glendale move-away lawyer with experience in the California courts and beyond.
What Do the Courts Look at When Considering Relocation?
The job of the courts is to focus on the best interests of the child when considering relocation. Among the factors a court considers are the child’s age, their community ties, and their school situation. Courts also look at the parenting history and whether one parent has been more involved with caregiving than the other.
Practicalities are weighed as well. For example, the courts will consider why relocation is being requested, such as a job opportunity or moving in with relatives, and whether a plan has been established to maintain the relationship between the child and the non-moving parent.
A Glendale move-away lawyer knows precisely what the courts evaluate and prepares your case accordingly.
The Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon Works for You
Divorce is among the most difficult challenges you can go through. When kids are involved, this life transition is even more trying, with rules, agreements, and legalities adding up quickly.
Attorney Patricia Rigdon, a Certified Family Law Specialist who practices entirely in family law and serves on the board of directors for the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, fights for your parental rights and works to resolve move-away disputes as quickly as possible. If you’re hoping to relocate, don’t do it alone; hire a Glendale move-away attorney to negotiate on your behalf.
FAQs About Glendale, CA Move-Away Law
How Does a Move-Away Order Work in California?
A move-away order is implemented when one parent wants to relocate with the child, requiring modification of the parenting plan. Because this move inevitably interferes with the nonmoving parent’s custody time, a move-away order is only granted when the moving party can prove that the relocation is most beneficial to the child.
Once granted, the existing parenting plan must be amended to ensure sufficient time with the nonmoving parent. This may be accomplished via summer breaks, holiday breaks, and virtual visits.
Why Is Moving Away Without the Court’s Permission the Biggest Mistake in a Divorce in California?
There are many reasons why moving away without the court’s permission can be a devastating mistake in a divorce.
For example, if a judge at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse orders you to stay in Glendale, moving without permission can dramatically interfere with your custody case, even risking your custody entirely. Being proactive and planning ahead are essential to keeping things legal. A Glendale move-away attorney can help you overcome obstacles without stepping on the court’s toes.
Can the Father of My Child Stop Me From Moving Away?
Yes, the father of your child can stop you from moving away under certain circumstances. If you share custody, and his rights will be disrupted by this move, he can contest your relocation and ask the courts to block it. Because the courts consider what’s in the child’s best interest, the onus is on you to prove that your desired move impacts your child more positively than their staying put. A lawyer helps you do this.
How Do I Win a Move-Away Case in California?
A Glendale move-away lawyer can help you win your California case by proving that your move is in your child’s best interest. A lawyer gathers credible documentation, creates a parenting plan that preserves the nonmoving parent’s relationship, considers things like travel costs and holiday time, and asks witnesses to speak on your behalf. Judges favor plans that are comprehensively, transparently, and thoughtfully written.
Contact the Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon
At The Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon, we have extensive experience with move-away cases. We know how important your children are to you, and we’re ready to fight to protect your relationship. Reach out to our team today to schedule a consultation.
Serving Glendale and the Greater Los Angeles Area
When your family faces the challenges of divorce, custody disputes, or other family law matters in Glendale or throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, you need an attorney who understands that preserving your family’s financial resources and emotional well-being is just as important as achieving favorable legal outcomes. Patricia A. Rigdon, Esq., CFLS, practices exclusively in family law and has dedicated her career to finding creative solutions that resolve conflicts without unnecessary court battles—allowing families to invest their resources in rebuilding their lives rather than funding endless litigation.
Based in Southern California and serving Glendale and surrounding communities, Patricia brings both Certified Family Law Specialist credentials and a comprehensive approach to family conflict resolution. Whether through skilled negotiation, mediation, collaborative family law, or vigorous courtroom advocacy when necessary, she tailors her strategy to each client’s unique circumstances and goals. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: exhaust every reasonable avenue for resolution before resorting to costly court intervention, but when talking no longer works and alternative dispute resolution isn’t appropriate, she becomes a fierce advocate ready to be your voice before the judge.
Whether you’re navigating a high-net-worth divorce involving complex asset division, fighting for custody of your children, seeking modification of existing orders, protecting your interests through a prenuptial agreement, or addressing any family law matter in Glendale, partnering with a Certified Family Law Specialist who prioritizes keeping your precious financial resources within your family while still being fully prepared to litigate aggressively when necessary can be the difference between draining your savings on attorney fees and achieving efficient, lasting resolutions that serve your family’s best interests.
Glendale, CA Move-Awaw Law Additional Resources
Stay informed about California family law with these helpful articles from our blog:
- What is Minors’ Counsel & Why Did the Court Assign One to My Case? – Understanding the role of court-appointed attorneys for children in contested custody cases and what their involvement means for your family
- Interstate Custody Lawyer Cost California – What to expect when hiring an attorney for complex custody matters involving multiple states and jurisdictional issues
- High Net Worth Divorce California – Key considerations and challenges unique to divorces involving substantial assets, business interests, and complex financial portfolios
- What is the New Child Support Law California? – Recent changes to California child support regulations and how they may affect your current or future support obligations
- How to Modify Your Child Support & Custody Agreements – Step-by-step guidance on when and how to seek modifications of existing family court orders when circumstances change
Glendale Practice Areas
DO YOU NEED LEGAL HELP?
The mediation process provides a more peaceful alternative to fighting about your personal issues in court. Read more to see if divorce mediation is right for you.
Collaboration brings attorneys, mental health professionals & accountants together to resolve family issues without going to court. Read more to see if a Collaborative Divorce is right for you.
Litigation in the divorce process involves submitting issues to family court in order to resolve them with the assistance of a judge, if both parties cannot reach an agreement in other ways. Read more to see if Divorce Litigation will be needed.