What qualifies as a substantial change in circumstances?
Here are some examples: • Geographic move. If a custodial parent intends to make a significant geographic move, it may constitute a changed circumstance that would cause a court to modify a custody or visitation order. In that situation some courts switch custody from one parent to the other, although the increasingly common approach is to ask the parents to work out a plan under which both parents may continue to have significant contact with their children. If the parents can’t reach an agreement, courts in some states will permit the move unless it is shown that the child will be adversely affected. In other states, courts will carefully examine the best interests of the child and make a decision about which parent should have custody. • Change in lifestyle. A parent can obtain a change in a custody or visitation orders if substantial changes in the other parent’s lifestyle threaten or harm the child.
Geographic move s: If a custodial parent intends to make a significant geographic move, it may constitute a changed circumstance that would cause a court to modify a custody or visitation order. In that situation some courts switch custody from one parent to the other. Although an increasingly common approach is to ask the parents to work out a plan under which both parents may continue to have significant contact with their children. If the parents are unable to reach an agreement, the courts in cases will permit the move if the person moving is able to prove that the child will be benefit from the move and that reasonable accommodation can be made for the other parent’s visitation. This affects mainly out of state moves. Moves within the state of Illinois are permitted unless your particular judgment prohibits moves beyond a certain area. (The move may still be allowed, depending on the circumstances) Change in Lifestyle . A parent can obtain a change in a custody or visitation order
