Child Custody and Relocation Laws in Maine

When parents divorce or break up, it can be tough to move on with their lives. If they want to take a better job somewhere else, or if they start a relationship with someone who lives elsewhere, Maine law prevents them from moving away ("relocating") with their children unless they can satisfy certain legal requirements.

Maine's Notice Requirement Before a Parent Moves With a Child

As a matter of law and public policy, Maine has determined that children should be assured of frequent and continuing contact with both parents, even after parents have divorced, separated, or ended their relationship. For that reason, a parent is always free to move alone, but the court becomes involved if a parent wants to move away with the children over the objection of the other parent.

If a parent wants to move away and take the children, that parent first has to provide the other parent with a written notice of intent. The notice has to be delivered to the other parent no less than 30 days before the proposed move. If the non-moving parent objects to the move, then the moving parent must go to court, and ask the judge to change custody.

If the moving parent believes the other parent will be angered by the notice and will endanger the child or the relocating parent, the relocating parent should give the notice to the court. The court will then provide notice to the non-relocating parent while taking simultaneous measures to protect the safety of the relocating parent and child.

Don't move away with your kids when your ex disagrees and the court hasn't ruled yet. Consult a lawyer first. If you leave before getting the court's permission, the judge can order you to return the child and possibly punish you by transferring custody to the non-moving parent.

How Do Maine Judges Decide Whether to Allow Relocation?

If a parent asks to relocate after the first custody order has been issued, a judge must find that there's been a "substantial change of circumstances." The proposed move itself is deemed to be a substantial change of circumstances if it disrupts parent-child contact between the child and the non-relocating parent. If a move will take the child more than 60 miles away from the relocating parent's current residence and more than 60 miles away from the non-moving parent's home, the judge will assume that the relocation will disrupt the relationship between the child and the non-moving parent.

If the parents can't agree about a planned relocation, the judge will schedule a hearing and will listen to testimony and consider evidence about the lives of the parents and the child. The judge will decide whether allowing the relocation would be in the child's best interests, after considering all of the factors that go into all custody decisions in Maine.

How Have Maine Courts Decided Relocation Cases in the Past?

In a key case, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court considered the matter of a divorced couple who shared physical custody of their children. The children spent most of their time living with their mother. Not long after the divorce became final, the mother remarried and planned a move to Oregon. She filed the required notice and after a trial, the judge issued an order stating that if the mother remained at her residence in Maine (where she maintained a medical practice), she would keep custody of the children, but that if she moved to Oregon, custody of the children would be shifted to the father.

The mother appealed the decision, and the high court approved the trial court's decision. The high court noted that there was a lot of evidence in the case to show that moving to Oregon was not in the children's best interests. In particular, one child was especially introverted and emotionally vulnerable, and he would have suffered greatly if his life was disrupted by the move. In addition, both children were old enough to testify and give a meaningful opinion that they wanted to stay in Maine and be near their father. Finally, there was substantial evidence that the father was the parent who was better equipped to resolve custody and visitation disputes and was more likely to encourage frequent and continuing content with the other parent.

Next Steps If You or Your Ex Plans to Relocate

If you or your ex have custody or visitation rights and want to relocate with your children, you should contact an experienced Maine family law attorney to assess your situation, advise you about your rights and obligations, and represent you in court.