Laguna Hills Move Away Lawyer

Move Away Attorney in Laguna Hills

A seasoned Laguna Hills move-away lawyer can help parents with relocation requests and disputes involving existing custody orders or parenting time. Move-away cases can result when a proposed relocation would interfere with a custody or visitation order. Relocation requests often require review of relevant facts and application of California family law principles.
Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP provides representation for Laguna Hills parents involved in relocation disputes and questions about how a move would impact an existing custody order and parenting plan.

Hire a Move Away Lawyer

Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP is a family law firm with over 100 years of combined litigation experience handling Orange County family law cases, including contested custody and move-away matters. The law firm has been honored by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and U.S. News & World Report for its family law practice.
Our attorneys have experience litigating relocation disputes in Orange County Superior Court and use this experience to review custody orders and parenting plans that may be affected by a move.

When a Relocation Becomes a Move-Away Issue

Parents are not required to go to court to relocate with a child, unless the move would affect an existing custody or visitation order. A relocation can become a move-away issue when the move would significantly affect the other parent’s current custody or visitation order. Move away cases focus on impact rather than distance. A relocation can cause a legal dispute when parenting time, school, or established routines would be disrupted.
For Laguna Hills parents, these legal issues are addressed in Orange County Superior Court. Identifying whether a move is a move-away issue is often the first legal question that must be answered before addressing a request for custody modification or changes to a parenting plan.

Evidence Courts Review in Relocation Disputes

After the court determines whether a move-away issue exists, it reviews evidence to consider the child’s day-to-day life and stability. Relocation evidence may include school placement, community involvement, existing parenting schedule, or the ability to maintain regular contact with both parents after a move.
Courts also consider logistics, such as travel or communication details. Laguna Hills parents can present this evidence in Orange County Superior Court based on the specific facts of their situation. Courts generally do not make assumptions about relocation.

How Existing Custody Orders Affect Relocation Requests

Custody orders and parenting plans already in place also affect move-away requests. If a proposed relocation would interfere with parenting time, a modification to the current custody or visitation orders may be necessary.
The court reviews how existing orders are working and how changes could affect distance, scheduling, and regular ongoing involvement from both parents. For Laguna Hills parents, these orders are addressed in Orange County Superior Court. Understanding how a current custody order affects relocation requests can help clarify the legal issues that must be addressed before a move.

FAQs

Can a Parent Relocate Without Changing Custody Orders?

Yes, in some cases, a parent may be able to move away without modifying custody orders if the relocation does not interfere with the existing parenting time arrangements. If the move affects schedules, travel logistics, or school attendance, the parents may need to review their custody or visitation orders to ensure they remain appropriate.
It is important to consider how the move will impact existing court orders and, if necessary, make the required modifications to accommodate the change.

Where Are Move-Away Cases Heard for Laguna Hills Parents?

Laguna Hills move-away cases for parents are heard in Orange County Superior Court. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction over all family law cases in Laguna Hills. The court decides on relocation requests that affect custody or visitation. It also governs how existing orders are to be handled during a move.
These matters are handled within the family law division, where judges evaluate relocation issues based on existing orders and the evidence presented.

Is Relocation More Common in California Than Other States?

Move-away rates also depend on the overall family law patterns of a state. California has a divorce rate of 5.88 per 1,000 residents, above the national average. Divorce statistics are not a way to measure move-away cases, but they can help explain why custody modifications, including requests for relocation, remain before the family courts of California and the Laguna Hills area family courts.

How Common Is It for One Parent to Be the Primary Custodian?

Custodial arrangements typically include one parent as the custodial parent. In the US, an estimated 78.2% of custodial parents are mothers and 21.8% are fathers, out of 13.9 million custodial parents overall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
For this reason, among others, relocation of the custodial parent or of the children is a frequent problem in such cases. These situations require careful review of how a proposed move would affect existing custody/parenting time arrangements.

Can a Move Away Dispute Arise Even if Parents Were Never Married?

A move-away case may be needed even if the parents were never married, but a custody or visitation order is in place. Relocation is not about the status of a marriage, but a parent’s rights and the parenting time ordered by the court.
If the move conflicts with an existing custody order, the court may need to determine how it affects the child’s time with each parent. Court involvement helps clarify responsibilities when relocation disrupts established arrangements.

Contact a Laguna Hills Move Away Lawyer

Relocation requests involving children can raise complex legal and practical issues, particularly if custody orders and parenting plans are already in place. Working with an experienced Laguna Hills move-away lawyer allows parents to understand the legal process and how court involvement may affect a custody situation.
Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, represents Orange County parents in move-away matters and draws on its experience in contested custody to assist with relocation issues and questions. Book a consultation today to discuss your situation, review existing custody orders, and understand the next steps.

Client Testimonials

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“I cannot say enough superlatives about the lawyers at Quinn & Dworakowski. David Dworakowski is a gifted trial attorney. I was amazed at his skill in my trial and he ran circles around my ex husband’s lawyer. If you are looking for a tenacious attorney who cares only about his client this guy is the attorney for you!
Thank you Quinn and Dworakowski.”
— Aria P.

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“High praise for Quinn 5 stars+++
We have been working with Quinn for the past year and he is outstanding! All of our questions have been answered all of our Issues have been Resolved in our favor! I was referred to Quinn by an acquaintance and I am grateful to her forever! He is understanding, kind, wise, a great communicator, and most importantly got my family everything we asked for and more! We are thrilled with the results working with him and his firm. I strongly recommend hiring Quinn and his firm to represent you if you want success, expert counsel and someone you can trust.”
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Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP – Laguna Hills, CA Office

Irvine Concourse 2050 Main Street, Sixth Floor, Suite 600, Irvine, CA 92614