Relocation Within Florida

by Anonymous from Florida

I have sole custody of my 13 year old daughter since my divorce in 2002 My ex is in arrears more than $60,000 and my house was being foreclosed on in the county where we both resided.

For a better financial situation, I moved to another county (about 150 miles away) in February of this year.

Although I did talk to my ex about the move and we worked out visitation he is now threatening to file a motion of contempt because I didn't notify the court!

I was unaware that I needed to do this, being as though all decisions regarding my daughter were granted to me, and he enjoys standard visitation only. Did I need to notify the court and what do I do now that I have already moved and been settled for almost a year?

Answer to Florida Child Visitation Question

Dear Anonymous,

You did not need to notify the court, if you had your husband's consent to relocate with your daughter.

A letter from him stating that he agreed to the move would be the simplest and best thing to have in your situation.

However, my guess is that you do not have a letter from him stating that he is aware of your move, and has agreed to it.

The next thing that supports you is that since you worked out a visitation agreement, then he obviously knew of the move and consented.

Even if you do not have the letter from him giving his blessing for you and your daughter to relocate, he was well aware of your move, and even made visitation arrangements! I suspect that a judge will see the situation for exactly what it is. He changed his mind.

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