Child Relocation in Denver
A Proposed Move Can Reshape Parenting Time & Your Child’s Stability
A proposed move can affect where a child attends school, how often each parent has parenting time, who handles transportation, and whether the current schedule remains workable. At Law Office of Stephan E. Uslan, I represent parents seeking to relocate and those objecting to a move that would substantially change their geographic relationship with the child.
Colorado uses the term parental responsibilities to encompass parenting time and authority over major decisions affecting a child. Before changing a child’s residence or agreeing to a move, you should understand how the relocation could affect the existing order and the child’s relationship with each parent.
Call (303) 900-5346 to discuss a proposed relocation, an objection, or a parenting plan that no longer fits your family’s circumstances.
Colorado Child Relocation Standards for Denver Parents
Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-129 provides the framework for modifying parenting time when a parent intends to relocate with a child. A relocation dispute involves more than a routine schedule adjustment because the move may reshape the child’s relationship with both parents. If the move is contested, the requesting parent may need court permission before relocating the child. The requirements depend on the existing order, the proposed distance, and the changes the move would require.
Written relocation notice generally identifies the intended residence, explains the reason for the move, and proposes a revised parenting plan. The court evaluates the request according to the best interests of the child, not either parent’s preference alone.
Factors that may affect a relocation decision include:
- Each parent’s reasons for supporting or opposing the move.
- The history and quality of each parent’s relationship with the child.
- Educational opportunities at the current and proposed locations.
- Extended family and other significant relationships.
- The anticipated effect of the move on the child.
- The advantages of remaining with a primary caregiver.
- The feasibility of a reasonable parenting-time schedule.
Other statutory considerations may apply, including the child’s adjustment and whether the current environment endangers the child’s physical health or significantly impairs emotional development. No single factor determines the outcome. The court’s analysis depends on the evidence in each case.
Building a Relocation Request or Objection
The appropriate strategy depends on which parent proposes the move, what the current order requires, and how the distance would affect daily parenting. I consider the practical details alongside the legal standards because any revised schedule must reflect the child’s actual needs.
Requesting Permission to Relocate
A parent seeking to move may need evidence explaining the reason for relocation, the proposed home and school arrangements, community resources, transportation plans, and opportunities for the other parent to maintain meaningful contact. A detailed proposal can address regular parenting time, holidays, school breaks, travel responsibilities, communication, and decision-making responsibilities.
Opposing a Proposed Move
A parent objecting to relocation may present evidence about the child’s stability, school, nearby family relationships, bond with each parent, and the effects of increased travel. The objection should explain the concerns created by the move and whether an alternative parenting arrangement would be practical.
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Preparing for Negotiation, Mediation, or a Hearing
Preparation begins with the current parenting-time order and the specific changes the move would require. Relevant facts may include travel distances, school calendars, work schedules, transportation costs, communication arrangements, and the time each parent currently spends with the child.
I develop a strategy around each family’s circumstances and explain which issues may carry the most weight in negotiation, mediation, or court.
A revised parenting plan may need to address:
- Regular parenting time during the school year.
- Weekends, holidays, and extended school breaks.
- Transportation arrangements and travel responsibilities.
- Phone and video communication between visits.
- Major educational, medical, and personal decisions.
In some contested cases, the court may appoint a child and family investigator to examine parenting issues and submit a report. A parental responsibilities evaluator conducts a broader evaluation of disputed parental responsibilities. If either becomes involved, I can explain the person’s role and how the evaluation fits into your case.
Filing a Relocation Request in Colorado
Colorado Judicial Branch instructions state that a parent must have an existing parenting-time order before filing a motion or stipulation to relocate minor children. The paperwork is generally filed with the same court that issued the original order.
Depending on whether the parents agree, the required documents may include a verified motion or stipulation to relocate, a proposed parenting plan, and a proposed order. If the move changes parenting time or other financial circumstances, child support may also require review under the applicable guidelines.
A move within Colorado may still raise a relocation issue if it substantially changes the geographic ties between the child and the other parent or makes the existing schedule impractical. Crossing state lines isn’t the only reason an order may need to change.
More Than 40 Years of Family Law Experience
I bring more than 40 years of family law experience to complex custody, parenting-time, divorce, and post-divorce modification matters. My background in social work also informs how I assess family dynamics, communication patterns, and the practical effects of proposed arrangements on parents and children.
Relocation cases require individualized analysis, not a standard custody argument. I focus on the existing order, the reasons for and against the move, the child’s circumstances, and the evidence needed to present a clear position under Colorado law.
Clarify Your Options Before a Child’s Residence Changes
If you’re considering a move, responding to another parent’s proposal, or seeking a revised parenting-time arrangement, get case-specific advice before changing the child’s residence or accepting terms that may be difficult to follow. I can assess the existing order and identify the legal and practical issues that require attention.
Law Office of Stephan E. Uslan serves parents throughout the Denver metropolitan area, including Aurora, Commerce City, and Thornton, in complex custody and parenting-time cases.
Call (303) 900-5346 to discuss your child relocation concerns with me.
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Over 40 Years of Experience
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Degree in Social work
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Exclusive to Family Law
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In-depth experience in all matters relating to child custody and divorce
