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Hi everyone, I’m Dr. Michael Mantell, joining Bonnie Rabinovitch Mantel, who is the owner and managing partner of the Primus Family Law Group right here in San Diego. Hi Bonnie. Hi Michael, how are you doing today? Doing well.

We are fortunate that we’re here in San Diego. Wait a minute, I think. Prices have gone up, it’s cost a fortune to live here, we’re all complaining about it, and in the middle of a divorce, someone says, hey, I got a job offer in some other state across the country.

I’m going to take my three kids and we’re going to go. What do you say, Bonnie? Yeah, that doesn’t work like that. Every adult has a constitutional right to move.

We have freedom of mobility. But unfortunately, minor children, the court has the jurisdiction over where they go. Everybody understands, San Diego is very expensive and it’s hard to make ends meet here.

A lot of people are having to find jobs in other states, other countries, different places. They may want to take their kids with them, completely understandable. But if the other parent doesn’t agree, Michael, you need a court order to do it.

And that is a pretty expensive endeavor because the court doesn’t just listen to a move away, that’s what we call them, on a 20 minute calendar, or even on a 40 minute calendar. You are looking at a hearing where there may need to be testimony from both parents, grandparents. You may need a custodial evaluator, an expert who will say the children’s best interests are with one parent or another.

And it’s not about saying that the other parent is not a good parent. There is nothing about that. You can be sharing your children on an equal basis, you both are really good parents, but the judge has to decide because one of them wants to move those children.

That’s a very, very tough call to make, especially because it’s about the impact on the children. And with minors, they’re being influenced by all kinds of things that one parent is, you know, bribing the other children with. Well, hopefully, if they’re going through a divorce, Michael, they’re not supposed to be talking about this stuff with the children.

Not supposed to be, but we’re talking about human beings. So since we’re talking about human beings, and since someone has a urge, I got to get away, I want to move, it’s better, I want to take my kids with me, it’s better for them. They better be talking to someone wise.

So if they want to reach out to you, and your team at Primus Family Law Group, how can they speak with you about getting some information about this, whichever side they’re on, believe the one who doesn’t want to say right, they can reach us directly, Michael, it’s 619-574-8000. Or you can reach us online at www.primusfamilylaw.com. And all roads lead to some way, form, live chat, direct call to get on our calendar for a free 30 minute telephone or zoom consultation.