Los Angeles Move-Away and Relocation Attorneys
Experienced representation for interstate, international, and contested relocation cases.
A new job across the country. A fresh start after divorce. Support from family in another state.
If you’re the parent planning the move, you see an opportunity—a way to give your child more.
But if you’re the one being left behind, you’re afraid of losing time, losing connection, and watching your child be pulled away from everything familiar.
Their home is here. Their school, their friends, their routine. They’re rooted in this community, and you want the court to understand just how much that stability matters.
As move-away and relocation attorneys, we’ve walked this path with parents hundreds of times. When everything you’ve planned depends on that relocation approval, or when you’re fighting to keep your child close, we build the case that shows the court that you know what is truly best for them.
When I came to Al, I was scared and didn’t know anything about child or spousal support but he explained everything and guided me step by step. In the end, I got exactly the support I needed, and there have been no problems since.
Strategic Advocacy in High-Stakes Move-Away Cases
At Provinziano & Associates, we represent parents across Southern California facing the emotionally charged legal challenges of child custody move-away cases.
Led by an award-winning and Certified Family Law Specialist, our firm has handled a wide array of move-away cases, including high-conflict and complex relocation scenarios.
Our move-away lawyers craft compelling legal strategies grounded in California law, backed by courtroom experience, and tailored to your family’s reality to show the court exactly what’s at stake for your child.
The California Move-Away Legal Framework
Relocation cases come in many forms. Some involve a move just a few hours away. Others mean crossing state lines or even international borders.
Even a local move, such as from Santa Monica to San Diego, can spark a court battle if it disrupts your child’s visitation or relationship with the other parent.
California Family Code section 7501 grants a parent the presumptive right to change the residence of their child; however, this right is not absolute and may be limited by court orders or proven detrimental to the child.
Before making plans, talk to the other parent or consult with a relocation attorney to understand your rights.
How Your Custody Arrangement Affects Your Right to Relocate
In any move-away case, the court’s focus is clear:
Will this move serve your child’s well-being and preserve meaningful relationships with both parents?
How the court approaches your case depends heavily on your current custody arrangement:
Shared Custody: If you and your co-parent share joint legal or physical custody, you typically need the other parent’s agreement or a judge’s permission to relocate.
Primary Physical Custody: If your child primarily lives with you and you have sole physical custody, you may have a certain right to move. However, this is subject to the court’s review—especially if the other parent objects and can show the move would harm your child’s relationship with them or is not in your child’s best interests.
No Court Order in Place: If there’s no formal custody order yet, the process becomes even more urgent. You’ll need to request both permission to move and legal custody at the same time, often on a tight timeline. These situations require quick legal action and careful strategy.
If the other parent objects, your move could be blocked, and you may find yourself in court defending your decision and your parenting rights.
At Provinziano & Associates, we help you understand your legal standing before things escalate and build a plan that aims to secure your role as a parent and support your child’s future.
The California Move-Away Legal Standard
When parents in California can’t agree on a relocation, the court follows a legal framework rooted in California laws and two landmark cases: In re Marriage of Burgess and In re Marriage of LaMusga.
Key Point: Even for primary custodial parents, courts can deny relocation if the other parent demonstrates that the move would adversely affect the child’s well-being or is not in the child’s best interest. Any move is ultimately subject to the child’s best interests, not just the custodial parent’s preferences.
How Courts Evaluate Relocation: The Key Factors
When deciding whether a parent can relocate with their child, the court weighs several factors, including:
- Good faith of the relocating parent: Is the move motivated by legitimate reasons or an attempt to interfere with the other parent’s relationship?
- Detriment to the child: Will the relocation harm the child’s relationship with the non-moving parent or their overall well-being?
- Practical impact: Can the non-moving parent still maintain meaningful contact through revised visitation schedules or remote communication?
- Best interests of the child standard: Does the relocation ultimately serve the child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs, not just now, but in the long term?
How Our Los Angeles Move-Away and Relocation Lawyers Help You
Move-away cases require strategic thinking, meticulous preparation, and the ability to tell your family’s story in a way that resonates with judges who make these life-changing decisions daily.
Every piece of evidence, from employment offers to school research, from housing arrangements to transportation logistics, builds toward a single goal: demonstrating that your proposed path forward serves your child’s future better than any alternative.
We don’t just argue your case; we construct a vision of your child’s life that the court can understand, support, and approve.
Here’s what we can help with:
Seeking Court Approval for Relocation
You’ve found the opportunity of a lifetime—a global promotion, family support, a safer environment, or better education for your child. But California law requires you to prove this move serves your child’s best interests, not just your own convenience.
Our move-away attorneys help parents build comprehensive cases that address every factor, demonstrate good faith motivations, and show courts how the proposed move enhances rather than diminishes your child’s life opportunities.
Defending Against Proposed Relocations
When the other parent wants to move your child hundreds or thousands of miles away, your relationship hangs in the balance.
Our move-away defense attorneys fight to preserve your parental rights and maintain meaningful contact with your child. We challenge relocation requests that would cause harm to your child or that aren’t motivated by legitimate, good-faith reasons.
Modifications to Existing Move-Away Orders
Life doesn’t stop after a relocation order. Job situations change, family circumstances evolve, and children’s needs develop in ways no one could predict.
When your existing custody or move-away orders no longer serve their best interests, we help seek modifications that reflect today’s reality.
Emergency Custody Orders for Unauthorized Relocations
When a parent relocates or threatens to relocate with your child without court permission, every day matters. These situations require immediate legal action to prevent further violation of existing custody orders.
Our attorneys move swiftly through California courts and, when necessary, coordinate with enforcement mechanisms to restore proper custody arrangements and hold the relocating parent accountable for their unauthorized actions.
Enforcement of Move-Away Restrictions
Court orders aren’t suggestions. They’re legal mandates that both parents must follow.
When the other parent violates relocation restrictions or interferes with your newly established long-distance parenting time, we take decisive action to enforce your rights and protect your relationship with your child.
The Provinziano & Associates Difference
Privacy Is a Priority in Relocation Matters
Move-away cases often involve sensitive personal, financial, or family information. While some court filings are public by law, we take every available step to protect your privacy. From how we communicate to how and where documents are filed, we build confidentiality into the process, ensuring that only the right people have access.
Preparation for Every Stage of the Relocation Fight
From the first court filing to potential trial, relocation cases demand thorough preparation. We gather everything available that’s needed to support your position—school data, housing plans, or visitation logistics. Nothing is left to chance when the future of a child is on the line.
Built for Multi-State and International Moves
Whether the move crosses county lines, state borders, or international jurisdictions, we’re equipped to handle it. We structure California orders to support recognition and enforcement in other jurisdictions, where legally possible.
Multilingual Support
Relocation cases are emotionally and legally complex. We make sure you’re heard, supported, throughout. Our team includes multilingual professionals, and we tailor our communication to your needs to ensure nothing is lost in translation. If language is a concern, reach out to ask if we can support your native language.
Trial-Ready When Negotiation Isn’t Enough
Relocation cases can settle through mediation, but not all do. When a judge needs to decide, our relocation & move-away litigation attorneys prepare early and thoroughly, building a clear, evidence-based case that speaks to what courts care about most: your child’s best interests. Our approach is shaped by years of experience in Southern California courts, knowing what persuades judges and what protects your child’s future.
What Our Clients Say
Are You Ready for a Private, No-Cost Case Evaluation?
With a deep understanding of California family law and over 75 years of combined experience, we’ve helped clients resolve everything from high-conflict custody cases to complex, high-asset divorces.
Here's How Our Move-Away and Relocation Law Firm Works With You
Every relocation case tells a story about opportunity, sacrifice, and what parents will do to build better futures for their children.
We begin by understanding your story, then we develop a legal strategy that maximizes its chances of success.
Schedule a Private Case Evaluation
We start by understanding your situation in detail: your reasons for relocating or your concerns about the proposed move, existing custody arrangements, your child’s current stability, and how the proposed change could impact their daily life and relationships.
After You Hire Us: Develop Your Comprehensive Legal Strategy
Once you hire us, we dig into the facts. From preparing supporting documentation to anticipating the court’s good-faith and best-interest analysis, we craft a case that’s legally sound, emotionally compelling, and tailored to your goals.
From Negotiations to Trial: Strategic Advocacy at Every Stage
Whether we’re negotiating a solution that works for both sides or litigating in front of a judge, every step we take is focused on one thing: a result that preserves your child’s stability and supports their future.
Speak with a Southern California Move-Away Attorney Today
At Provinziano & Associates, we have extensive experience in relocation and move-away custody cases across Southern California. Whether you’re seeking permission to relocate or opposing a proposed move, our team understands the legal, emotional, and logistical challenges involved.
Our team of move-away attorneys regularly represents parents in Los Angeles County communities like Beverly Hills and Pasadena, as well as Orange County cities including Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. We also serve clients in surrounding areas, handling complex cases that involve statewide, interstate, and international custody issues.
Whether resolving custody through negotiation or litigating high-conflict move-away disputes, we tailor every strategy to the court’s expectations and to the realities of your child’s life.
Schedule your private case evaluation today, and see how our team can help you move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Move-Away and Relocation Cases in California
Can I Move 2 Hours Away With My Child?
How Hard Is It to Get a Move-Away Order in California?
What Is Considered a Move-Away in California?
Can You Appeal a Move-Away Order in California?
What Happens When the Custodial Parent Moves Away?
What Happens When the Noncustodial Parent Moves Away?
How Can I Prove a Move Is Beneficial?
How Far Away Can a Custodial Parent Move in California?
When It’s All on the Line, This Is Who Leads the Room
Alphonse Provinziano
Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney
With over 2,000 cases and more than 220 trials behind him, Alphonse Provinziano is one of California’s most trusted authorities in complex divorce, custody,
support, and property matters.
- A Former Prosecutor
- Certified Family Law Specialist
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
He brings extensive courtroom experience and strategic depth to every high-stakes family law case.
Respected by peers, sought after by clients, and featured in national media, Alphonse also teaches and presents to top family law attorneys across the U.S. and beyond.
Featured in: Bloomberg Law, People, Fortune, Insider, Fast Company, Newsweek, LA Times, The Mirror, and more.
Meet Alphonse Provinziano
Meet
Alphonse Provinziano
Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney
Featured in: Bloomberg Law, People, Fortune, Insider, Fast Company, Newsweek, LA Times, The Mirror, and more.
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