HB 2186 -- Child Relocation

Co-Sponsors:  Kelly (27), Ostmann, Smith, Fraser, Riback Wilson
(25), Williams, Bartelsmeyer, Fares

This bill makes several changes in the law governing the
relocation of a child by a custodial parent.

The bill requires the Office of State Courts Administrator to
develop and adopt a uniform form for providing notice to a
nonrelocating party of a proposed relocation with exigent
circumstances.  The form must state the nature of the exigent
circumstances, the distance of the move, whether the child will
change school districts, and a notice explaining the time frame
in which the nonrelocating party must reply.  The current and
future address of the relocating party will not be provided in
the form.  The court may, after a hearing, rule that exigent
circumstances do not exist and order disclosure of the addresses.

The bill requires any person entitled to custody or visitation to
also provide notice to all parties before relocating.  Failure to
provide proper notice may be taken into account by the court as a
factor in modifying the decree or ordering a party to pay
reasonable expenses and attorney fees.

The bill also requires that the nonrelocating party, when
opposing a relocation request, must provide sufficient evidence
supporting their opposition to the proposed relocation.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:03 am