(703) 591-0056

Practice Areas

• Collaborative Family Law
• Mediation
• Litigation
• Marital Agreements
  • Separation and Property Settlement Agreements
  • Premarital and Post-Marital Agreements
• Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Property Division
  • Custody and Visitation
  • Relocation
  • Child Support
  • Alimony and Spousal Support
  • Stepparent Adoption
  • Wills and Powers of Attorney

Relocation

The Code of Virginia does not specifically address the issue of relocation. Whether and how the child’s best interest will be served by modifying an existing custodial arrangement is the essential question in the relocation of a child and can be one of the most contentious issues between parents.  

Factors to be considered in addressing a relocation issue include:

Reason for relocation  
Reasons may include better employment opportunities, improved economic circumstances, or relationships with extended family in the desired location. The relocation, however, must also be in the best interest of the child.

Impact on non-custodial parent’s visitation or custodial time
The distance of the desired move is a factor considered when evaluating a custodial parent’s desire to relocate.

Effect of relocation on parent-child relationship
The current relationship of the child with the non-custodial parent is a significant factor.