How does relocation with a child work under Florida law?

Relocation is treated as a distinct and carefully regulated matter under Florida Statute § 61.13001. When a parent subject to a custody or time-sharing order wishes to move with the child, and the move is 50 miles or more from the current residence for at least 60 consecutive days, the parent generally must either obtain the other parent’s written agreement or file a formal petition to relocate. The statute sets out specific notice requirements, including advance written notice to the other parent, who then has a defined period to object. If the other parent objects, the court decides whether to allow the relocation based on the child’s best interests, weighing statutory factors. Because relocation disputes are among the most difficult and emotionally charged in family law, they are especially well suited to mediation, where parents can sometimes craft a workable long-distance arrangement that serves the child better than a contested court outcome.