Child Custody Battles and Relocation Nightmares | Lawyers Without Billboards - Ep. 9

Are you thinking about moving with your child after a divorce or custody agreement?

Relocation may seem like a fresh start - but it could turn into a legal disaster if you don't take the right steps.

In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, the team at Shewmaker & Lewis - experienced family law attorneys based in Atlanta, GA - unpacks the real-life challenges of child custody modifications when one parent relocates. From “I just got remarried and we’re moving to Texas” to “I’m changing counties and schools for a better commute”, the team shares hard-won lessons and courtroom stories that reveal what judges really look for when reviewing relocation requests.

💡 This episode covers:

Why relocation custody cases are often more expensive than divorce

How even a 10-mile move can trigger a custody dispute

Real court outcomes from relocation gone wrong (and right)

How military deployments and reassignments affect custody

Parenting time modifications, school changes, and financial impacts

What the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) has to do with all this

🔑 Key takeaway: If you’re thinking about moving - even if you have primary custody - talk to a family law attorney first. Judges don’t always side with the moving parent.

✅ Subscribe for more real legal talk—no billboards, no jargon, just the advice you actually need.

📲 Need help with a relocation or custody issue? Visit https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com to speak with a Georgia family law attorney today.

🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Search for Lawyers Without Billboards.

🎧 Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Introduction & Nacho Joke Callback
01:47 – Custody vs. Divorce: The Emotional & Financial Stakes
03:14 – Teenagers, Custody, and the Catlike Phase
04:10 – Why Relocation Cases Are So Expensive
05:07 – The High School Sweetheart Move to Ohio
06:08 – When Clients Tell You Before They Move
07:01 – The Case That Lost Custody Due to Delay
08:10 – Patty as Guardian ad Litem: When the Move “Stuck”
09:39 – Judges, Punishment, and Best Interests of the Child
10:24 – The Texas Move: What Not to Do
11:14 – Why Relocation Is So Painful & Unpredictable
12:03 – Even In-State Moves Can Trigger Custody Challenges
13:22 – When the Non-Custodial Parent Moves
14:26 – Modifying Visitation and Parenting Schedules
15:02 – Do Judges Care Why You're Moving?
16:10 – Child Support Adjustments & Retroactive Deviations
17:03 – Final Thoughts: Always Call a Lawyer Before You Move
18:46 – Quick Tease: International Custody & Hague Convention
19:49 – Hero of the Week: Attorney Rebecca McLaw
21:08 – Outro

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