Like many other states, Pennsylvania has rules that limit when parents who are raising their children separately want to move.
Before a parent moves, he or she should first examine his or her custody order carefully, as it may include additional right or obligations beyond what is in Pennsylvania’s laws.
Pennsylvania’s relocation laws do not apply to every move
Not every move is subject to Pennsylvania’s laws.
Only moves which will make it significantly harder for the parent who does not want to move to have custody or parenting time will trigger the law.
Whether a given move counts as a relocation that is subject to the law will depend on a parent’s unique circumstances. A single parent in Gettysburg should therefore strongly consider speaking to an attorney before moving.
To give some fairly obvious examples though, a move to a house next door would be unlikely to trigger the law’s provisions.
Likewise, a move closer to the other parent would probably not require the parent who wants to move to follow the law.
The relocation laws in this state are detailed
If the relocation law does apply to a move, then a parent must notify the other parent in detail about the move. As a rule, a 60-day notice is required, and the other parent will have 30 days to file an objection.
If there is either an objection to the move or a dispute about a new parenting time schedule, then the court will hold a custody hearing.
At the hearing, the court may consider a number of factors to determine whether the move is in the best interests of the children involved and, if so, what parenting schedule would be in the best interests of the children.
Of course, the parents are always free to enter an agreement about the move and file it with the court.
Gettysburg residents may in their lives have a number of good reasons to move, even a long distance. They should therefore be aware of Pennsylvania’s rules so that they have the best chance at accomplishing their goals for their families.