a question about child custody

[coskahs89]

My stepdaughter is 16 and has decided that she wants to relocate with her father in VA her mother resides in FL and has primary custody b/c my husband was active duty military and just retired -we have spoke to domestic relations and child support services in FL and they state all that my husband's ex has to do is notorize a statement stating that the child may live here during the school year and that she doesn't want child support during this time ---she is on all kinds of public assistance and is claiming that this is not true and we must go to court to take care of this-if both parties agree can we just petition the court to change place of residence? without using attorneys can we just do it ourselves as long as all parties agree?

[Attorney Cheri Hobbs]

If the minor child wants to relocate with father then the parties can sign a Joint Stipulation for Relocation, Time Sharing and child support and file it with the underlying court of jurisdiction. It would be wise to establish in writing the new address for the child, when and how Mother will see the child and what the new child support amount will be. There may be a $50.00 fee to "re-open" the case. Wait until the Court grants the order for relocation prior to the child moving.

Attorney Cheri Hobbs