Bloomfield Hills Parental Relocation Attorney

Last updated on June 22, 2026

People are occasionally required to change residences, in and out of state, for all kinds of reasons: remarriage, a business transfer, proximity to specialized medical care for an illness or injury, or military service.

When the person who is moving is a divorced parent, and the move becomes a parental relocation, a variety of legal difficulties can arise. Is the move being undertaken out of revenge against the former spouse? Is it going to benefit your child or drive your family further apart?

Michigan divorce attorney Lisa D. Stern will inform you of every law, option and alternative you should know about in order to make a sound decision. She has helped divorced and separated parents like you for 30 years.

Lisa brings her talent for improvisation and creativity to the goal of keeping a family together, post-relocation. Phones, webcams, email and other digital technology can be assets in maintaining communications between parent and child.

Share your parental relocation objectives with Lisa D. Stern during your candid, confidential initial consultation. Reserve your appointment now at 248-973-7842.

Understanding The Legalities Of Parental Relocation

Michigan courts use these factors to decide whether it is in the best interests of the child for a parental relocation to occur for up to 100 miles from a child’s home or to another state:

• The move should improve the quality of life for parents and their children.
• The custodial parent requesting the move should not intend to frustrate the parent seeking visitation and should be likely to comply with substitute visitation orders.
• The noncustodial parent resisting the relocation should not be motivated by a desire to secure a financial advantage regarding continuing support obligations.
• There should be realistic opportunities for visitation to preserve the parental relationship.
• Love, affection and other emotional ties
• Guidance in education and religion, if any
• Moral fitness, and physical and mental health of the parents
• Reasonable preference of the child
• Domestic violence directed against or witnessed by the child

Parental relocation requests can be difficult to seek and execute, contest and prevent.

When one parent is looking to move to another area, he or she must petition the court for permission. In these cases, the court may take into consideration certain factors, such as the parent’s primary motive for moving. If the parent is attempting to move as a way to cause chaos and interrupt the parenting schedule, the court may deny the relocation petition.

Ultimately, the court will look at whether the move benefits the children in any way. For example, if noncustodial parents are moving to obtain better financial stability, it may help them meet their child support obligations and help the child financially. Moving to a different environment may improve the child’s education. Furthermore, the move may be advantageous to the child’s overall living environment. Before a final decision is made, the judge will ensure that the parents have a plan in place.

Tell Lisa about your change of domicile legal goals in an initial consultation at her Bloomfield Hills law office.

Lisa invites you to read the firm’s article related to relocating with children after a divorce.

Dealing With The Issue Of Jurisdiction

Typically, the state that can claim to be a child’s “home state” is the one that will have jurisdiction. Per the Michigan Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, the state defines “home state” as the one in which a child has been living with a parent (or guardian) for at least six months before the commencement of custody proceedings.

The home state of newborns who are less than six months old is the one in which they have lived from birth. If the law designates Michigan as a child’s home state, then the local family court has jurisdiction (this holds even if a child has moved out of state within the last six months, yet one parent continues to live here).

If another state that would otherwise be considered a child’s home state declines to exercise its right to jurisdiction, Michigan courts can then step in and claim jurisdiction. This typically occurs when, after review, a court determines that another state (likely that from which a divorced parent and their children came) would be the more appropriate forum in which to determine custody.

What do you do if the other parent says you can’t move?

If they don’t give the green light you can still fight for your right to move. However, the process will be longer and more complicated. You would have to prove that the move will substantially benefit your child’s life. Will they have access to better schools? More job opportunities in the future? A safer home environment? Will you be able to make more money and provide them with a more comfortable life? The court will take all of this into consideration while making its decision.

Naturally, the further you want to move, the more hurdles you’ll run into to get it approved. But there are still options. If you want to move with your child but aren’t sure how to go about it, you may want to contact a legal professional to learn more about what you can do now.

Parental Relocation For Military Service Members

A permanent change of station (PCS) or deployment cannot serve as the sole reason to strip a service member of custody. Instead, Michigan courts typically grant temporary custody modifications that automatically revert when the deployment or reassignment ends.

If a relocation dispute arises while you are deployed, the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protects you by providing a mandatory 90-day stay (postponement) of family court proceedings, ensuring your rights are not compromised while you are unavailable to defend them.

When PCS orders require moving across state lines, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) dictates which state controls the case. Generally, Michigan retains exclusive, continuing jurisdiction if the child lived here for at least six consecutive months prior to the filing. A new state cannot modify a Michigan custody order unless a Michigan judge formally relinquishes authority.

Schedule Your Consultation

Contact Lisa’s office at this phone number from wherever you are in the Detroit area or across Michigan: 248-973-7842.

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