Opinion ID: 2096060
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Move Out of State

Text: Whether a move out of state by a parent with joint legal custody and primary physical custody will be sufficient to satisfy this standard depends on the facts. Although a move out of state is not per se a substantial change of circumstances such as to make that parent's continued custody unreasonable, Poret, 434 N.E.2d at 890, that does not mean that the circumstances inherent in such a move are always insufficient as a matter of law to warrant modifying custody. To determine that an existing custody order is unreasonable, a trial court is not required to find that the present custodian is unfit or that the existing order is harmful to the welfare of the child. This determination may include all relevant factors, including changes in circumstances of both the custodial and noncustodial parents and the resulting and potential advantages and disadvantages to the child. The change in conditions must be judged in the context of the whole environment. Id. at 888. A move far away will significantly impact the relationship between the child and the parent without physical custody and severely hamper active participation of such parent in the child's upbringing. This is particularly significant when joint custody is involved because the court's order of joint custody reflects a finding that participation by the parent without physical custody in the major decisions regarding the child's welfare is in the child's best interest. In addition, the idea that parents will live near each other is part of what makes joint custody feasible. As Judge Hoffman pointed out in his dissent, one of the factors the court must consider when deciding whether to award joint custody in the first place is, whether the persons awarded joint custody live in close proximity to each other and plan to continue to do so. Lamb, 583 N.E.2d at 752 (Hoffman, J., dissenting) (quoting Ind. Code Ann. § 31-1-11.5-21(g) (West Supp. 1992)). It is the effect upon the child, however, that renders a change substantial or inconsequential. Poret, 434 N.E.2d at 888. The child's welfare, not that of the parents, should be the primary concern of the trial court. Wible v. Wible (1964), 245 Ind. 235, 196 N.E.2d 571. Moreover, a change that might be regarded as slight or inconsequential in one case might be catastrophic in another. Poret, 434 N.E.2d at 888. For example, where a very young child or baby is involved, a move out of state may have little or no effect on the child. For an older child who has formed friendships, attends school, and participates in activities or sports, is involved in church, or enjoys the security of supportive relationships with nearby relatives or others in his community, a move out of state may have a much more significant effect. Whether the effect is of such a nature as to require a change in custody is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court. Marshall v. Reeves (1974), 262 Ind. 107, 311 N.E.2d 807, supplemented, 262 Ind. 403, 316 N.E.2d 828.