How to Get Permission from the Court to Relocate Your Minor Children

Criteria for Relocating Minor Children

If you want to move your minor children to a place that is far away from the other parent, you need to ask the court for permission.

You must have an existing parenting time order before you can submit paperwork to ask the court if you can move your minor children.

Identify Where to File Your Paperwork

You will file your paperwork with the same court that gave you the original parenting time order.

Forms and Paperwork Required

If you and the other parent agree on moving the children, ask the court for permission using a Stipulation form (agreement).

If you and the other parent do not agree on moving the children, ask the court for permission using a Motion form.

Stipulation

If you and the other parent agree on the move, use the forms link above to download and complete JDF 1407 Stipulation to Relocate Minor Children and JDF 1425 Order Re: Motion to Relocate Minor Children. For additional details on completing these forms, review JDF 1400 Instructions to File a Motion to Relocate Minor Children.

Paperwork Tips

Use the case number from your original case where parenting time was ordered.

You and the other parent will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the Petitioner on these forms.

Check the box next to the word Stipulation on the top part of JDF 1407 Stipulation to Relocate Minor Children.

Both you and the other parent must complete the Signature section at the end. You do not need to do this at the same time (i.e., you can complete your Signature section, then provide the document to the other parent and have him/her complete his/her Signature section at a later time.)

Do not complete the Certificate of Service part on the Stipulation to Relocate Minor Children, since you are filling out the form with the other person.

Complete only the top ("caption") portion of JDF 1425 Order Re: Motion to Relocate Minor Children. The court will fill out the rest.

How to Submit Your Paperwork to the Court

1. Give your completed forms to the same court that gave you the original parenting time order.
2. Pay the filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee, or visit our File Without Payment section for complete information.

Motion

If you and the other parent do not agree on the move, use the forms link above to download and complete JDF 1407 Stipulation to Relocate Minor Children and JDF 1425 Order Re: Motion to Relocate Minor Children. For additional details on completing these forms, review JDF 1400 Instructions to File a Motion to Relocate Minor Children.

Paperwork Tips

Use the case number from your original case where parenting time was ordered.

You and the other parent will have the same "identities" to the court as you did in the original case. For example, if you were the Petitioner in the original case, you will be the Petitioner on these forms.

Check the box next to the word Motion on the top part of JDF 1407 Motion to Relocate Minor Children.

You must complete the Signature section at the end of the document. The other parent does not need to sign this form.

Complete only the top ("caption") portion of JDF 1425 Order Re: Motion to Relocate Minor Children. The court will fill out the rest.

Mail or hand-deliver a copy of your completed Motion to the other parent.

After you mail or hand-deliver a copy of the Motion to the other parent, fill out the Certificate of Service parts of the forms before filing them with the court.

How to Submit Your Paperwork to the Court

1. Give your completed forms to the same court that gave you the original parenting time order.
2. Pay the filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee, or visit our File Without Payment section for complete information.

Additional Paperwork

The court may ask you to fill out additional forms. Additional forms the court may need include:

• JDF 1113 Parenting Plan
• JDF 1406 Motion to Modify Parenting Time
• JDF 1403 Motion to Modify Child Support

The child support calculator will help you estimate child support.

How to Respond to Paperwork Asking to Relocate Your Minor Children

First, decide whether or not you agree with the information in the paperwork.

Identify Where to File Your Paperwork

The location and contact information of the court where the paperwork to move your child was filed are on the top of the paperwork you received. Give your paperwork to the same court that is listed on the paperwork you received.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Use the forms link above to download and complete JDF 1315 Response.

Paperwork Tips

You and the other parent will have the same "identities" as you do in the existing case involving the child. For example, if you are the Petitioner in the existing case, you will be the Petitioner when you file your Response form.

The case number is on the top of the paperwork you received. Use that same number on your Response form.

You will need to mail or hand-deliver a copy of the Response to the other parent. After you mail or hand-deliver the Response, complete the Certificate of Service part of the form before filing the form with the court.

How to Submit Your Paperwork to the Court

Take your completed JDF 1315 Response to the clerk at the courthouse.