California Custodial Parent's Request to Relocate With a Minor Child

In In re Marriage of LaMusga (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1072 , the court addressed the standard that applies when a parent files a motion to modify a prior custody order because of a custodial parent's planned (or actual) move with the child. LaMusga then set forth the factors that a trial court generally should consider in exercising its discretion whether to grant or deny a custodial parent's request to relocate with a minor child: "Among the factors that the court ordinarily should consider when deciding whether to modify a custody order in light of the custodial parent's proposal to change the residence of the child are the following: the children's interests in the stability and continuity in the custodial arrangement; the distance of the move; the age of the children; the children's relationship with both parents; the relationship between the parents including, but not limited to, their ability to communicate and cooperate effectively and their willingness to put the interests of the children above their individual interests; the wishes of the children if they are mature enough for such an inquiry to be appropriate; the reasons for the proposed move; and the extent to which the parents currently are sharing custody." (LaMusga, at p. 1101.) In LaMusga, the trial court "ordered that primary physical custody of two minor children would be transferred from their mother to their father if their mother moved to Ohio." (Id. at p. 1078.) LaMusga concluded: "Just as a custodial parent does not have to establish that a planned move is 'necessary,' neither does the noncustodial parent have to establish that a change of custody is 'essential' to prevent detriment to the children from the planned move. Rather, the noncustodial parent bears the initial burden of showing that the proposed relocation of the children's residence would cause detriment to the children, requiring a reevaluation of the children's custody. The likely impact of the proposed move on the noncustodial parent's relationship with the children is a relevant factor in determining whether the move would cause detriment to the children and, when considered in light of all of the relevant factors, may be sufficient to justify a change in custody. If the noncustodial parent makes such an initial showing of detriment, the court must perform the delicate and difficult task of determining whether a change in custody is in the best interests of the children." (LaMusga, at p. 1078.) LaMusga stated the father "satisfied his initial burden of showing that the mother's planned move would cause detriment to the children, requiring a reevaluation of the children's custody." (Id. at p. 1079.) In the circumstances of that case, it concluded the trial court "properly considered the relevant factors and did not abuse its discretion in deciding that a change in primary custody from the mother to the father would be in the best interests of the children if the mother moves to Ohio." (LaMusga, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 1079.) LaMusga stated: "We do not suggest that a showing that a proposed move will cause detriment to the relationship between the children and the noncustodial parent mandates a change in custody. But it is within the wide discretion of the superior court to order a change of custody based upon such detriment, if such a change is in the best interests of the children in light of all the relevant factors." (LaMusga, at p. 1095.) LaMusga noted that although the trial court had previously awarded the mother "primary physical custody" of the children, the Family Code does not use that term, but instead "uses the terms 'joint physical custody,' which 'means that each of the parents shall have significant periods of physical custody' (Fam. Code, 3004), and 'sole physical custody,' which 'means that a child shall reside with and be under the supervision of one parent, subject to the power of the court to order visitation' (Fam. Code, 3007)." (LaMusga, supra, 32 Cal.4th at pp. 1080-1081, fn., 1.) Regarding the initial showing of detriment, the court stated: "The mere fact that the custodial parent proposes to change the residence of the child does not automatically constitute 'changed circumstances' that require a reevaluation of an existing custody order. A proposed change in the residence of a child can run the gamut from a move across the street to a relocation to another continent. As we have noted, the noncustodial parent has the burden of showing that the planned move will cause detriment to the child in order for the court to reevaluate an existing custody order." (LaMusga, at p. 1096.) LaMusga then observed: "The likely consequences of a proposed change in the residence of a child, when considered in the light of all the relevant factors, may constitute a change of circumstances that warrants a change in custody, and the detriment to the child's relationship with the noncustodial parent that will be caused by the proposed move, when considered in light of all the relevant factors, may warrant denying a request to change the child's residence or changing custody. The extent to which a proposed move will detrimentally impact a child varies greatly depending upon the circumstances. We will generally leave it to the superior court to assess that impact in light of the other relevant factors in determining what is in the best interests of the child." (LaMusga, at p. 1097.) Regarding the custodial parent's reasons for a proposed move, LaMusga noted: "Even if the custodial parent has legitimate reasons for the proposed change in the child's residence and is not acting simply to frustrate the noncustodial parent's contact with the child, the court still may consider whether one reason for the move is to lessen the child's contact with the noncustodial parent and whether that indicates, when considered in light of all the relevant factors, that a change in custody would be in the child's best interests." 5 (LaMusga, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 1100.) Based on the record in LaMusga, the California Supreme Court concluded the trial court properly considered those factors and therefore did not abuse its discretion by transferring custody of the children to the father if the mother moved to Ohio. (LaMusga, at p. 1101.)