Can my ex stop me moving 30 minutes away with our child?

[Angeldelight21]

Hi everyone, we got divorced 2 years ago, child is 4, started reception.

I would like to move to next town about 30 mins away for better schools etc. Do I need a special permission from Dad? Can he stop me from moving away?

Child leaves with me full time, stays overnight with Dad maybe once or twice a month.

Please advice
TIA

Yes he can. He can take you to court. Why does he have him so little ?

No but if you move away you’ll be responsible for transporting her back to where dad lives for his contact time.

Why doesn’t he have 50:50 responsibility for your dc?

He could go to
court if he wanted to be difficult but that would involve some effort and it doesn’t seem like
he has much of that to give your child if he only sees him once or twice a month. It probably wouldn’t make a
difference anyway if you have valid reason for moving and considering you aren’t going far.

Half an hour isn’t an issue. I moved three hours away, discussed through mediation first, my ex filled prohibitive steps, the magistrates agreed I could move and we had to meet half way for visits. He never took his entitled half of holidays etc, often cancelled and eventually couldn’t be bothered. He and my daughter are completely estranged now.

He could argue that you need to do all drop
offs and pick ups as you moved away but it’s not a distance they would negatively affect his parenting relationship. If you were going to move further away then he’d have a case. He couldn’t stop you moving but he could stop your dd.

I think that the demands to explain why he doesn’t have 50/50 are pretty rude. Most NRP don’t have 50/50 in the UK.

Agreed. Most resident dads don't do 50/50, so it is strange to start questioning why they don't do more post-separation.
30 minutes is an odd measure, as if driving, surely it depends on what time of day?
Good luck OP, I hope the move goes well even if you end up doing the lions share of the transport.

Theoretically he could try but as long as it doesn't impact contact time with dad he would lose.
Change of school also needs his consent.

Will he actually care? Can he drive and does he own a car? 30 mins is such a short amount of time? Especially if it means a better school. Me and ex live 2 hours apart we share the travel EOW.

It varies a bit depending on whether or not there is an existing child arrangements order and, if there is, what it says.

In general though a court's not going to care about a move that's 30min away. Moving schools is a bit more of an issue but it's unlikely to be a big deal if your DC is only in reception.

Thank you for all your comments. Regarding moving schools do I need something in writing from Dad?

I would give him a heads up and start planing the move. A good school is very important for your child’s future. It’s only 30 minutes away.

You apply for the school and you put both parents on the application form. Then you notify dad of what you've done. It's up to him to object if he wants to.

Does he have parental responsibility (is he on the birth certificate/ court order if not)?

ETA just saw you got divorced so he probably does have PR... if so then I think you do need his consent to move schools, or go to court