Do not make the critical error of waiting six months or longer
to petition the court for return of a child to Arizona.

»Child Relocation

       If you have allowed the other parent to remove the child from your local area or out of state for the reason of visitation or holiday and the other parent refuses to return the child, act quickly.  Contact our office immediately!  Untimely and delayed response could cost you primary residential parent of your child.  Worse, the home state of the other parent may gain jurisdiction of your child, forcing you to litigate your custody case in that jurisdiction.  Clearly, this may place you at a disadvantage and would likely increase your legal fees.

       A parent is allowed to relocate with a child by written agreement or court order. At least sixty days' advance written notice shall be provided to the other parent before a parent may do either of the following:
Common situations that cause individuals to seek a Family and/or Juvenile law attorney are:

1.	Relocate the child outside the state.
2.	Relocate the child more than one hundred miles within the state.

       Notice shall be made by certified mail, return receipt requested, or pursuant to the Arizona rules of civil procedure. A parent who does not comply with the notification requirements of this subsection is subject to court sanction. The court may impose a sanction that will affect custody or parenting time only in accordance with the child's best interests.

       Within thirty days after notice is made the nonmoving parent may petition the court to prevent relocation of the child. After expiration of this time any petition or other application to prevent relocation of the child may be granted only on a showing of good cause.

       A parent who is seeking to relocate a child may petitioning the court for a hearing, on notice to the other parent, to determine the appropriateness of a relocation that may adversely affect the other parent's custody or parenting time rights.

       Contact our office if you have any questions regarding relocation of a child. The consultation is free.