By Sally Lanham

The Washington State Legislature codified the rules and regulations for relocation of children in June of 2000. RCW 26.09.450 to 560 elucidate the procedure of how a new parenting plan is to be established. The primary residential parent is required to give notice to the non-residential parent no more than 60 days prior to the move or no more than 5 days after the person knows of the move, whichever is greater.

While any sort of move requires notice of relocation, if the move is within the same school district, the non-residential parent does not have the right to object. Any move outside of a school district can be challenged by the secondary residential parent.

It is difficult if a child is moved across the state, out of the state or, the worst scenario, out of the country.  Under such circumstances, it is extraordinarily difficult to have any sort of meaningful relationship on an ongoing basis.

There are letters and phone calls. There are web cams and videos and tapes. There are trips and long summer visitations.  These are all good things. The down side is there are no weekly dinners, no hugs at the end of the day, no bedtime rituals, after bath snuggle times. There is just loss. Endless and continuing loss.

Seeing a new tooth grow, going to the zoo, discovering a secret place, or just going to a movie together can be gone forever.

No one wins a relocation action.

Sally Lanham is a Divorce & Family Law attorney with the Mikkelborg firm. She works with people in all aspects of their relationships with other family members, including reloation actions. She helps people with adoptions, pre and postnuptial agreements. She also handles divorces, paternity suits and other related matters.