how can I relocate???

[akincy]

My ex and I have a 5-year old daughter together.
We have been apart since she was 8 months old, and I verbally told him when we split, that I didn't plan on living in MO the rest of my life.

In 2007, I was offered a MUCH better job in California, and I shared the news with him. He told me he would take my daughter away from me if I moved her that far.

We have never been to court for child support, paternity (he signed the birth certificate and is her father), or custody.

I want nothing more than to move away, but I feel like I'm stuck here, because he plays a role in her life. We each have her 3.5 days a week, unless he's on-call, and that's when I have her 11 days straight.

Can anyone help?

 

[WhirledPeas]

What sort of help are you seeking? You're not likely to find tremendous support for taking a five-year-old away from her very involved dad.

 

[seniorjudge]

akincy, there is nothing to keep you from moving.

 

[akincy]

I want our daughter to be able to experience more than just what Kansas City has to offer. I want to make a better life for myself, so that I can give her a better life than what I'm giving her now.

 

[akincy]

akincy, there is nothing to keep you from moving.

i have an uncle who practices non-family law tell me that, but that my ex would file for custody, and i'd be flying back and forth to make court dates. how true is that?

When I visited California, and was offered the position, I offered to provide 100% of the transportation costs, and my ex still said no.
My daughter loves her dad, and I think the relationship she has with him, and the rest of my family is great, and will be missed, but I want to make a life for her…not just make her life comfortable "right now."

Should I start with the paternity test?

 

[WhirledPeas]

By "there's nothing to keep you from moving", it means that there is nothing to keep YOU from moving and leaving the child in the care of the parent who doesn't want to physically separate her from her other parent and her extended family. Convincing a Kansas City judge that life in California without the benefit of the child's dad in her daily life is better for her somehow is highly unlikely.

There's no need for a paternity test if dad is on the birth certificate and you both agree he's dad.