Child Custody

questions & answers

Question: My ex-husband has made the choice to move 1 hour away from his daugther. We have joint custody however he is telling me I have to meet him halfway for drop off and pickup on his weekends. Is this correct?

Answer:

Joint legal custody has little (if anything) to do with the parenting plan, child exchanges or associated travel expenses. You may want to look at your original divorce decree for a paragraph that discusses the parenting plan, and who must travel where to retrieve the child. Irrespective of where he lives, that rule should not change. If the decree is silent on this point (which would be unusual), then you may want to either: (1) negotiate a solution in writing (e.g. through a mediator or privately); or (2) litigate the matter in court.

Since family matters may be fact specific, if you feel you need to speak with an attorney, you can find more information on where to locate an attorney for specific legal advice on this website.