Working with an ex-spouse to develop a fair parenting plan is a challenging task. The past year’s economic climate has made many people’s jobs more tenuous than they have ever been before. Those employees who have been furloughed, laid off, or looking for a better opportunity in a competitive job market may have to consider their options in other areas than where they live.
Finding the balance between a career and family
Gainful employment is essential to maintaining stability in your family life, one that may already rely on the strict schedules dictated by your parenting plan. A joint custody arrangement in Illinois means that both parents have to agree about essential decisions pertaining to their children’s lives. A move for a new job can affect your visitation abilities. Parenting time is ideally arranged for the most significant benefit to your children. A divorce is a tumultuous time in a kid’s life, which may be made easier by a schedule they can rely upon and find stability within. Here are some of the considerations for those who may need to pursue a job in a different location:
- You may need the other parent’s support to move for a new job.
- Even if the parent considering the move has ‘residential custody,’ both parents would have to come to a formal agreement on this decision.
- If a parent’s move is outside the parameters of what Illinois constitutes as relocation, they may not have to seek the other parent’s approval if they have primary physical custody.
- If you are relocating, you may need to file a Notice of Relocation and provide a copy to the other parent 60 days before the planned move. If the other parent agrees to this arrangment, they can sign the notice and avoid court intervention.
- If the other parent doesn’t agree to a move, you need to file a Petition to Relocate to ask the court for relocation permission. If the parents can’t agree, a family law judge will consider what is in the child’s best interests, along with many other factors.
Navigating your job options post-divorce
Active communication with the other parent is intrinsic to making fair and conscientious decisions for your children. If communication breaks down, you need to consider the options for finding an outcome that can benefit your children financially and emotionally.
