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Author:
Allen Law Group, PC
Attorney Aaron E. Allen is an experienced trial attorney who has been practicing law throughout Massachusetts for over seventeen years. Attorney Allen specializes in representing individuals and families in all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, modifications, removal, division of assets, abuse prevention issues and care and protection matters among many others. He also has extensive experience representing individuals and businesses offering comprehensive counsel and guidance in multiple areas of law including civil litigation and construction and business matters. Attorney Allen is a member of the Committee for Public Counsel Services’ Children and Family Law Practice and Appellate Panel representing families in matters involving the Department of Children and Families.
Attorney Allen is a member of the Salem, Boston, Essex County and Massachusetts Bar Associations as well as the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. During law school Attorney Allen clerked at the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board and later was hired by KPMG, LLP as a tax attorney and business consultant in their tax consulting practice. Attorney Allen served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard for eight years during college and law school. Attorney Allen resides in Topsfield, Massachusetts with his family and is active in coaching youth sports.
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ARE YOU A PARENT CONSIDERING A MOVE OUTSIDE OF MASSACHUSETTS?
Did you know there’s a Massachusetts law that specifically addresses the removal of minor children from the Commonwealth? G.L. c. 208, section 30 is known as the Massachusetts removal statute. It provides that a parent of minor children, looking to relocate and remove the children from Massachusetts, must establish a “good, sincere reason” for the move. This is called the “real advantage” test. Once you have shown the court that you have “cause,” meaning a good, sincere reason for the move, then the court must assess whether the move is in the children’s best interest. This law focuses almost exclusively on the scenario where one party is the primary physical custodian of the minor children and seeks to move out of Massachusetts. If the other parent does not object to you moving with the children, then you are free to move without court intervention. However, it is highly recommended that when you are contemplating such a move, that you be as considerate as possible to the impact on the children’s lives, their community, schedules, and their parenting time with the other parent. That is exactly why you need the assistance of Attorney Allen of the Allen Law Group, P.C., an experienced divorce and family law attorney.
If the parties share physical custody of the minor children, the court’s willingness to elevate one parent’s interest in relocating the children is often diminished. Both parents have equal rights and responsibilities with respect to the children, and as a result the importance of one parent’s advantage to relocating outside of Massachusetts is greatly reduced. The impact of the move on the overall parenting schedule is of paramount consideration. Judge’s will try to avoid radically modifying the parenting schedule when both parties are sincere, committed, involved and loving parents. Courts want to see the moving parent make good faith efforts to try to limit the impact of the move on the children and other parent. The loss of parenting time and frequent access to the children, as well as the increased costs of travel to see the children, can also result in a reduced child support order for the non-moving parent. Most important in this consideration is how the moving party can demonstrate how the non-moving parent’s time with the children will be preserved and protected.
A move “in-state” may also warrant a challenge by the non-moving parent using a similar review, when such a change in location may affect transportation time, the children’s schooling, extracurricular activities, and parenting time. If one party is staying in-state but moving across state from Fall River to Northampton, for example, then the same issues apply. As a result, the court is likely to use the same standard to weigh the benefit of the move and how it impacts the children’s best interest and their ongoing relationship with the other parent. As a result, it is important to fully consider the impact of a move and to consider how to address the move in a way that is most considerate of the children’s lives, community, schedules, and parenting time with the other parent. If you are considering a relocation, or one has been forced upon you by your employer for example, then you need to speak with an experienced family law attorney to best assess how this move can be worked out with the other parent and/or to best prepare the request for the court’s consideration.
This process takes time, so don’t wait! Contact Attorney Aaron E. Allen of the Allen Law Group, P.C. at (978) 219-9694 and/or at aaron@allenlawgrouppc.com now!
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7/22/2019