Relocation Is Not Just a Move. It’s a Court Case

Under Florida law, relocation means moving more than 50 miles from your current residence for at least 60 consecutive days. This applies whether the move is within Florida or out of state.

You cannot simply move with your child without the other parent’s consent or a court order. Doing so can seriously damage your custody case and result in court sanctions, including changes to time-sharing.

Relocation cases are highly fact specific and require careful legal planning from the very beginning.​

 

When Does the Relocation Law Apply?

Florida’s relocation statute applies when:

• The move is more than 50 miles from the current residence, and

• The move will last 60 days or more, and

• There is an existing court order or pending case involving time-sharing

Temporary vacations or short work trips generally do not qualify, but most permanent moves do. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies as relocation, you should speak with a family law attorney before taking any action.