If you have a child custody order that has been modified due to one parent needing to relocate with the child, then you already know how difficult and frustrating it can be to not see your child as often as you are used to. If this relocation has your child in another state, then you also know that this relocation can start to become a costly matter. This can be frustrating because, now, not only are you NOT seeing your child on an “as-usual” consistent basis, but now you are having to pay extra travel expenses as well. In these circumstances, you may be wondering what you can do to reduce your travel expenses or if the other parent can help you with those travel expense. If you have found yourself in this situation, it is in your best interest to seek legal advice and representation. If you or a loved one has a child custody order in place and your child is relocating to another state, contact an experienced North Carolina attorney to help you understand what this means in relation to your child custody order.
Okay, Who Pays the Cost?
When you have a co-parent that has relocated to another state with your child, you may feel overwhelmed. This feeling can come from the fact that you now cannot see your child as often as you would like, but can also stem from the travel expenses that will come along with this relocation. Though you may not be the one who relocated, the cost may feel the same. However, the good news is, sometimes the judge will consider travel expenses in your child custody/child support order.
Travel expenses can include train or bus fare, gas, airfare, hotels, and in some cases meals and become quite extensive depending on your situation. Luckily, the court will sometimes consider these costs if you can show the court that these travel expenses directly correlate with the travel that is necessary to see your child. In most cases, travel expenses are not automatically awarded just because a parent has decided to relocate out of state. Instead, these expenses are considered extraordinary expenses, in which case you would have to file a motion to modify or file a new child support order to address the travel related expenses. Because of this, it is important to keep all receipts and records of your travel expenses during the time you are travelling to be with your child and adhere to the custody agreement. It is important to note, that all cases are different, therefore, seeking legal advice and representation is invaluable. An attorney will be able to look at your expenses as well as the age of the child and help you prepare evidence to support your request to receive travel expenses.
Need Legal Advice?
Relocation, when you have a child custody order in place can be difficult, and as if not seeing your child as often as you are used to is not enough, add in travel expenses and the entire process can become almost unbearable. Though you may be frustrated with the matter, you may be able to receive travel expenses from the other parent. That is why, it is important to have a good and experienced attorney on your team. If you or a loved one would like to seek a child custody or child support modification, contact an experienced North Carolina child custody attorney at The Law Office of Dustin S. McCrary to help you with your case and to help you determine the best possible strategies for your case. Contact our office today so that we can help you!