310-552-3500
Skilled Move Away and Child Relocation Attorney in Los Angeles, CA
Joseph Land has watched relocation disputes tear apart custody schedules built over years, and he built his practice around helping Los Angeles parents through this kind of change. When a co-parent gives notice of an intended move, a move-away and child relocation attorney in Los Angeles can help you understand what the law requires before that first conversation with the other parent turns into a court filing.
At Land Legal Group, our move-away & child relocation lawyers in Los Angeles work directly with parents on both sides of these disputes, whether you are hoping to relocate for a new job or trying to keep your child close to home. Every case starts the same way: a clear review of the existing custody order and what it says about a future move.
What Is a Move Away Case in Los Angeles?
A move-away case is any custody dispute in which one parent wants to change a child’s residence in a way that would affect the other parent’s time with the child. This can mean a move across Los Angeles County, out of state, or out of the country, and each version carries its own legal wrinkles. The dispute becomes a move-away case the moment the relocation would meaningfully change the current parenting schedule, not simply because a parent changes addresses within the same school district.
Parents in Los Angeles most often bring these cases forward because of a new job offer, a remarriage, the cost of living, or the need to be closer to extended family. The reason for the move matters less than most parents expect. California law focuses mainly on the move’s effect on the child, not on whether the underlying reason sounds compelling to the other parent.
Los Angeles move-away & child relocation lawyers see these cases at every stage of a family’s history, from a divorce finalized last month to a custody order in place for a decade. A change in circumstances, not the age of the order, usually triggers the dispute.
What Does Family Code 7501 Say About a Parent’s Right to Move?
California Family Code 7501 gives a parent with custody the right to change a child’s residence, subject to the court’s power to restrain a move that would harm the child’s welfare. This statute traces directly back to In re Marriage of Burgess, the case that first established this presumption in favor of a custodial parent’s right to relocate.
Family Code 7501 does not mean a parent can move without any oversight. If the other parent objects, the court still reviews the circumstances and can block the move or place conditions on it if the evidence shows real harm to the child. Los Angeles move away & child relocation lawyers walk clients through how this statute applies to their specific custody order, since a single phrase in an existing order can change which side carries the burden of proof.
What Factors Do California Courts Weigh in a Move Away Case?
When a move away request is contested, California courts apply the factors set out in In re Marriage of LaMusga. Judges do not use a rigid checklist, but they consistently return to a set of questions when deciding whether a proposed move truly serves the child’s interests.
These factors include:
- The child’s need for stability and continuity in the existing custody arrangement
- The distance of the proposed move and how it would affect regular contact with the other parent
- The child’s age, developmental stage, and their relationship with each parent
- The reasons behind the proposed move and whether bad faith played a role
- Each parent’s ability to communicate and support the child’s relationship with the other parent
- The child’s own wishes, once the child is old enough to express a reasoned preference
Los Angeles move-away & child relocation attorneys prepare for a contested hearing by building evidence around these exact factors rather than arguing in generalities about what feels fair to either parent.
How Does Joint or Sole Custody Change a Move-Away Case?
The existing custody arrangement changes which parent must prove their case first. When one parent has sole physical custody, the opposing parent generally must show the relocation would cause real harm to the child before the court will hold a full hearing on the request.
When parents share joint physical custody, the standard shifts. The parent who wants to move must show that the relocation truly serves the child’s interests, since neither parent has the presumptive right that comes with sole custody. According to the Judicial Council of California’s 2025 Child Custody Mediation Outcomes Study, joint legal custody was the outcome in 73 percent of California mediation sessions where legal custody was addressed, while physical custody outcomes split closer to evenly between joint and sole arrangements. These numbers matter here because so many Los Angeles families already share some form of joint custody, which means the higher burden of proof applies more often than parents expect.
What Notice Must Be Given Before Relocating With a Child?
California Family Code 3024 allows a court to require a parent to give written notice before changing a child’s residence for more than 30 days. When this requirement applies, notice generally has to reach the other parent at least 45 days before the move, sent by mail with a return receipt and a copy to that parent’s attorney.
This notice period exists so both parents have time to attempt mediation before the case escalates into litigation. Skipping this step, or moving before the notice period runs, can damage a parent’s credibility with the court and invite an emergency motion from the other side. Our Los Angeles move away & child relocation attorneys review every custody order early so clients know exactly what notice their case requires before a moving date gets set.
Where Are Move Away Cases Heard in Los Angeles County?
Depending on where the existing custody order was filed, a move away case in Los Angeles County may be heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, the Chatsworth Courthouse serving the San Fernando Valley, or the Torrance Courthouse serving the South Bay. Cases connected to the Department of Children and Family Services are often handled separately at the Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park.
Joseph Land has appeared before family law judges across these Los Angeles County Superior Court Family Law Division locations and understands how local calendars and standard orders differ from one courthouse to the next.
Interstate and international relocations raise additional jurisdiction questions under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Parents considering a move outside California, or opposing one, should raise this early.
When Should You Contact a Move Away and Child Relocation Attorney?
A parental relocation attorney is worth contacting as soon as you receive notice that your co-parent plans to relocate with your child, or as soon as you start seriously considering a move yourself. Waiting until a few weeks before the intended move date leaves far less room to negotiate, gather evidence, or request an emergency hearing if needed.
Parents also benefit from legal guidance when:
- A new custody order needs to address a future move that has not happened yet
- The other parent has already relocated without giving proper notice
- The proposed move involves another state or country and raises jurisdiction questions under the UCCJEA
- A parent needs an emergency move-away attorney in Los Angeles because a relocation is already underway without agreement or court approval
Led By Founding Attorney Joseph Land, Los Angeles Move Away and Child Relocation Lawyer
Joseph Land leads Land Legal Group, a move-away & child relocation law firm founded in 2016 to provide focused, strategic representation in family law matters. Joseph has represented parents on both sides of contested relocation disputes across Los Angeles County. Learn more about the firm.
Credentials:
- California State Bar Number: 266657 (Active)
- Juris Doctor (J.D.): Roger Williams University School of Law, 2009
- B.A.: University of Maryland, Government and Politics
- Admitted to practice: 2009
- Avvo Rating: 10.0 “Superb”
Recognition:
- Super Lawyers, Family Law, 2021 to 2026
- Avvo Client’s Choice Award, 2013 to 2015
- 175+ reviews on Google Business Profile
Professional Associations:
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Beverly Hills Bar Association
- Century City Bar Association
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association
- Southern California Family Law American Inns of Court
Joseph regularly appears before the Los Angeles County Superior Court, including the Stanley Mosk, Chatsworth, and Torrance courthouses. His background in contested custody litigation is especially useful in move-away cases that require a full evidentiary hearing rather than a quick agreement between parents.
What Sets Land Legal Group Apart?
Clients working with Land Legal Group get direct communication about where their case stands, not a rotating cast of unfamiliar staff. Joseph Land, along with the Land Legal Group family law team, prepares each move-away case with the same attention, whether the dispute involves a move across town or across the country.
Family law cases involving children carry weight far beyond the courtroom, and Joseph Land approaches every move-away matter with that in mind. Read more about his background on his attorney profile page.
Schedule a Consultation With a Los Angeles Move Away and Child Relocation Lawyer Today
A pending relocation does not have to catch you off guard. Call Land Legal Group today at 310-552-3500 to speak with a move-away and child relocation lawyer in Los Angeles about your custody order and what the law requires next.
Whether you are the parent planning to move or the parent trying to protect your existing parenting time, our team is ready to walk you through your options and help you build a strong position before a hearing date is set. Visit Land Legal Group online to learn more about our family law practice.
Land Legal Group
1900 Avenue of the Stars Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: 310-552-3500
Related Blogs:
- Navigating the Complex Requirements for a Relocation Petition in California
- How to Modify a California Child Custody Agreement When a Parent Wants to Move Out of State
