Moving children from one area to another

[shakeyandunsure]

Does anyone have any experience of a mother (custodial parent) moving children (teenagers, happily settled in senior school) to a completely different area (200+ miles away)

Their dad pays for everything (which would stop if they moved) and they are happy where they are. One child is obviously upset about the idea, the other one doesn't seem so bothered.

Not sure if their dad has parental responsibility. They were married when kids were born and divorced in 2002.

Any ideas?

It doesn't matter who pays for what. What matters is what the current status quo is.

If dad sees them regularly and has done for some time then he perhaps has good grounds for applying for a Prohibited Steps Order to prevent them from moving. It would be a fairly uphill battle for him given his kids are teenagers. To be honest there's a good chance that CAFCASS/judge will simply ask what the kids want and order that.

Given that they are teenagers, is it not possible for mum to stay a few more years until kids have finished school? Or perhaps they could live with dad to avoid moving away from friends and stability?

Moving a teenager away from a school where they have friends and settled is very hard on them. I remember having to do this when I was younger. Took me years to make friends and settle as when I arrived, everyone was already in little cliqués.

Parental Responsibility means nothing in practice. He could get that in a heartbeat at court.

think you can only do that if its a different country

You can apply for a Prohibited Steps Order for pretty much anything. Getting it is another matter.

If they are teenagers then they are quite able to decide they want to stay with him rather than move with Mum. A court would be quiet likely to let them unles there is something untoward in the father/child relationship.

Is that an option? If so then it is a possibility that the father could, tactfully, make sure the children are aware they have this option.

I agree that moving teenagers is a very big deal and should not be done lightly. Has the mother good reasons for moving them? If the reasons are less than great a court will not look on her well.