I was wondering if anyone has any experience moving interstate with child?
My daughter is 15, and hasn’t seen her father since she was 3 (his doing). My partner has been offered an amazing job opportunity interstate and we would be crazy not to take it.
All the family court orders we had done in the beginning meant she was supposed to see him two afternoons a week and every second weekend, but in my opinion it’s null and void as he hasn’t for 12 years. Any advice? I don’t see how it would be a problem as there’s no relationship there, but also don’t want to do the wrong thing.
9 Replies
I moved states twice. First time my son was 6 and hadn’t heard from his dad since he was 6 weeks old (we were very easy to find, had mutual friends and had never moved, I’d tried to contact him many times for the sake of our son) and then we moved when he was 14, still hadn’t heard from him.
Does he have any contact at all? Does he speak to her on the phone? Is he the kind of guy to take you to court just to make your life difficult?
If there is absolutely no contact I’d just move. Absolutely no reason to seek his permission, cause he won’t notice you are gone anyway! Even if he did initiate court proceedings it highly unlikely a court would grant his request.
If she has some contact then things are more complicated and you’ll have to do sone guess work into what to do. Wether that’s telling him your moving and hoping he doesn’t kick up a stink.
An ex colleague of mine was made to return to the state after attempting similar. Was very frustrating for her whole family.
If possible try and stay inside the border. For example my husband is looking to take a job on the Gold Coast. To avoid my daughters absent father creating an issue we are considering moving to The suburbs just south of the boarder. It’s a hassle but avoids a great issue.
There's no way they'd make you return. He could set up visits and custody, that's about all.
At 15 the courts are going to do nothing. Been there done that. Won’t even get past mediation. Move and have a great new life with your family x
If you're really worried get legal advice before you go. You have a great chance of being allowed to go as the move won't impact his relationship with her, it's zero now so you can't do more damage than that.
Get legal advice
my guess is if he’s been too lazy to be apart of the child’s life this far then I can’t see him being bothered with the legal proceedings to make you return. Go and make a life for you and yours!
No problem if he doesn’t see her then doesn’t know. It’s only a problem if he goes to court and stops it but sounds like he won’t care so just go.
As another commenter said, at 15 the courts aren’t going to do anything especially if he hasn’t seen her in 12 years. Good luck with your move.