Every year the Legislature has an opportunity to update various laws in Tennessee.  During the 2016 session the Legislature made an update to Tennessee Permanent Parenting Plan.  The update added language to the Parental Relocation Statute.  When either parent decides to relocate the Parental Relocation Statute requires them to notify the other parent.

The notice shall contain the following:

• Statement of intent to move;
• Location of proposed new residence;
• Reasons for proposed relocation; and
• Statement that the other parent may file a petition in opposition to the move within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice.

Many divorcing parents enter into a Temporary Parenting Plan.  There has been some confusion in recent years as to when the Parental Relocation Statute comes into effect.  In order to clear up the confusion, the Legislature added the following clause:

After custody or co-parenting has been established by the entry of a permanent parenting plan or final order, if a parent who is spending intervals of time with a child desires to relocate outside the state or more than fifty (50) miles from the other parent within the state, the relocating parent shall send a notice to the other parent at the other parent’s last known address by registered or certified mail.

The addition of this clause clarifies that the Parental Relocation Statute applies only after a Tennessee Parenting Plan becomes permanent.