09/03/2026
PLANNING TO MOVE WITH YOUR MINOR CHILD IN FLORIDA?
You need to know how Florida state law defines child relocation before you pack.
Under Florida law, a move counts as a relocation if it meets specific rules.
RELOCATION RULES
The Distance: You move at least 50 miles away from your current home.
The Time: The move lasts for at least 60 days in a row.What Doesn't Count: Short trips for vacations, school programs, or medical care do not count toward the 60 days.
The Baseline: This distance is measured from where you lived when your last custody or time-sharing order was made.
UNMARRIED PARENTS & RELOCATION
⏱️ Until legal paternity is established: The mother still retains sole custody of the minor child.
The 6-Month Jurisdiction Window: Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), a child's "home state" remains the state where they lived for the last six consecutive months.
Florida Retains Control: If the mother relocates to another state, the new state cannot claim permanent jurisdiction over custody matters until the child has lived there for six full months.
The Father's Action: If the father files a Petition to Establish Paternity in Florida before those six months are up, Florida remains the child's legal home state and holds exclusive jurisdiction over the case and a judge can order her to return to Florida until the case is settled.
Know your legal rights and consult with a Tampa Bay Family Law Attorney before relocating or entering into a verbal or informal agreement with your child's co-parent regarding the relocation of your minor child.
Learn More @ https://divorce-lawyer-tampa.net/parental-relocation/
Consultations: (813) 879-4600
Child Relocation Lawyers - File/object to a PETITION TO RELOCATE WITH A MINOR CHILD. Nilo J Sanchez & Associates PA , Tampa Bay 813-879-4600