When you got married, you moved to Alaska to be with your spouse. Perhaps they were offered a job there, or maybe it was their home state, even though the two of you met elsewhere.
However, after 10 years of marriage and the birth of a child, the two of you have decided to get divorced. You do not want to stay in Alaska on your own. You would rather move home so that you can live closer to extended family members in a place you are more familiar with. Are you able to move out of Alaska after the divorce is finalized?
Relocating with children
For divorced couples without children, relocating is easy. Many people in this situation move back to their home state, and there is no specific legal process they need to follow.
Because you have a child, however, things become more complicated. It depends on what the child custody arrangement looks like and who has physical custody rights. If you and your ex share custody, Alaska’s remote location can make it difficult to exchange the child if you move to another part of the United States.
As a result, you will need to petition the court for a modification to your child custody arrangement. The court will likely want to know why you want to move. Moving closer to extended family members is a common reason. Other reasons may include taking a new job, going to school, seeking a lower cost of living or pursuing other opportunities that would benefit both you and the child.
It is important to remember that you should not move out of Alaska with your child in a way that could violate your former spouse’s custody rights. You need to take the proper legal steps first to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly. It can be helpful to work with an experienced law firm at this time.