How does a court determine if a modification of the parenting time schedule to accommodate relocation is in the childrens “best interest”?
Ohio law provides that a court must consider several factors to determine whether such a modification is in the childrens best interest. These factors include, but are not limited to: 1) the reason for the anticipated move, such as employment opportunities or remarriage; 2) the distance that a relocation will put between the children and the non-custodial parent; 3) the involvement of the childrens extended family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins; 4) the non-custodial parents relationship with the children; 5) the parents ability to communicate and cooperate with each other about matters relating to the children; and 6) the financial, physical and emotional ability of the parents and the children to travel for parenting time purposes.
