Relocation

When a divorce is finalized in Salt Lake County, life rarely stands still. One parent may accept a job in another state, move closer to family, or simply need a fresh start in a new city — and when children and parent-time are part of the picture, those moves become a legal question as much as a personal one. Brown Family Law, a divorce and family law firm based at 8915 S 700 E Ste 203 in Sandy, Utah, handles relocation matters as part of its broader child custody practice, helping parents on both sides of a proposed move understand what Utah law requires and how a custody order can be adjusted to fit new circumstances.

How Relocation Fits Within Brown Family Law's Practice

Relocation is one thread in a wider family law practice that also includes child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, property division, paternity, and modifications of existing orders. Because a move often forces changes to an established parenting arrangement, the firm's relocation work overlaps closely with its Child Custody Lawyer and Divorce Decree Modification services. The team, which the firm describes as having more than 150 years of combined legal experience, treats a relocation request not as an isolated event but as part of the long-term custody picture for a family.

A first step the firm often takes is reviewing the existing divorce decree. A well-drafted decree should anticipate the possibility of a future move, and when it does, parents may be able to simply follow the terms already in place. When a decree is silent on relocation — or when its provisions no longer make sense under a family's present circumstances — Brown Family Law helps parents navigate the next steps, whether that means requesting a move, opposing one, or modifying the order.

What Utah's Move-Away Rules Involve

In plain terms, Utah applies specific requirements to what are commonly called "move-away" requests. A custodial parent who intends to move more than 150 miles away must notify the noncustodial parent of that intent at least 60 days before the move. Utah law also addresses the cost side of long-distance parenting: the relocating parent is generally responsible for roughly five-sixths of the yearly travel expenses associated with visitation. There are exceptions — for instance, if a court has found the non-moving parent in contempt for failing to pay child support, the moving parent may not be required to cover those travel costs. Brown Family Law explains how these statutes apply to an individual situation rather than leaving parents to interpret the rules on their own.

Objecting to a Relocation Request

A parent who believes a proposed move is not in the child's best interests — or that the relocation provisions in the decree are simply wrong — can ask the court to review parent-time and relocation issues through a hearing. These hearings reward careful preparation, and the firm's attorneys have experience presenting the case for why a move may not serve the child or why an existing parenting schedule should remain in place. In some matters, the court may ultimately adjust the family's custody order, and Brown Family Law assists parents in pursuing those adjustments alongside any other custody questions that arise.

How the Firm Guides a Relocation Matter

1. Review the existing divorce decree to determine whether it already accounts for a move.
2. Explain how Utah's move-away notice requirements and travel-cost rules apply to the specific facts.
3. Clarify the parent's rights regarding parenting time, custody determination, and relocation.
4. Prepare for a court hearing when a move is contested, focusing on the child's best interests.
5. Pursue any needed modification of the custody order to reflect the new arrangement.
6. Support the client through each step so they can focus on the transition ahead.

Serving Families Across Salt Lake County

Brown Family Law works with custodial and non-custodial parents throughout the greater Salt Lake City area. From its Sandy office near The Shops at South Town, the firm serves surrounding communities including White City, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Murray, Holladay, Draper, South Jordan, West Jordan, Riverton, Taylorsville, and Millcreek, along with neighborhoods such as Prospector Place, Granite, and Lincoln Estates. These are the everyday landscapes — near landmarks like Lone Peak Park, Wheeler Historic Farm, Gardner Village, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, and Murray Park — where the families the firm represents raise their children and where parenting schedules must continue to work even after a move.

What Sets Brown Family Law's Approach Apart

The firm frames relocation work around protecting a family's children, finances, and long-term goals rather than adding to the conflict. Consistent with the strategic philosophy it calls Optimum Outcomes Planning, its attorneys aim to answer questions clearly and quickly, explain each step of the legal process, and keep the focus on the best interests of the child. Whether a parent is planning a move or opposing one, Brown Family Law offers individualized representation designed to maximize a parent's time with their children while steadying the family through a difficult transition.