INTERSTATE CHILD CUSTODY | RELOCATION
The most cooperative, amicable, friendliest custody arrangement will be rocked with the news a parent has plans to move to another state or country.
It begins a time of uncertainty and stress for the entire family. All the hard work to iron out differences and work out scheduling and parenting times is out the window, overshadowed by conflict over the move and which state has jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the jurisdictional dispute inevitably creates hard feelings between parents and, equally as inevitable, leads to accusations of ‘rigging’ the system to gain an unfair advantage.
Fortunately, Washington adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The UCCJEA governs and guides courts as they decide the right of a state’s courts to hear a child custody case. As you can probably imagine, the laws governing interstate child custody matters can be bewildering. Wysocki Law knows the UCCJEA and is here to help you understand your rights and options in an interstate child custody matter.
If you already have a parenting plan, Washington's Relocation Act applies. Whether you are moving or the other parent is moving, whether the move is within the school district or outside the school district, strict notice requirements and deadlines apply. In a 50/50 parenting plan, the situation becomes even more complex.
If you are going through a divorce or have a working custody agreement and the other parent has decided to make a significant move with your child, contact Wysocki Law at once. We can help – but don’t wait. Time is of the essence.