You have recently gone through a divorce and ended your relationship with your partner. The two of you have children together, so you are still co-parents. You know that this is going to make life a bit more complicated.
But now that your marriage is over, you are hoping to relocate. Maybe you want to move with the children so that you can take a job that will increase your wages, now that you are down to one income. Perhaps you are looking to move closer to extended family members, like grandparents who can help you raise the children and take on some of those responsibilities. Are you able to do so?
You may need to modify the custody order
Relocation is not impossible, but it can be difficult.
The key is to remember that, because you and your spouse are coparents, a custody order was issued by the court. You cannot move in a way that would intentionally violate this order or keep your ex from seeing the kids. This means that a minor relocation may be fine. If you are just moving across town, you can still honor the custody schedule.
But for a more significant relocation, you may first need to ask the court to modify that custody arrangement. You will need a new schedule to make exchanges, and you and your ex may need to redefine how legal and physical custody rights are divided.
It is important not to move immediately, running the risk of breaking the court order. Modifications are possible, but they do need to come first. Take the time to carefully consider the legal steps that are required to make sure everything goes smoothly.