If a custodian seeks to move with the child, court approval is required, balancing which factors?

• A. The child's age
• B. The distance moved
• C. The advantage to the child and the impact on visitation
• D. The parent's income

Answer: (C)

When a custodian wants to move with a child, the court uses the best interests standard and focuses on the real-world impact on the child’s life. The central decision is a balance between the advantages the move would provide to the child and the potential disruption to the child’s relationship with the noncustodial parent—i.e., how the move would affect that parent’s visitation and ongoing involvement. If the move offers meaningful benefits for the child and visitation can be preserved or accommodated, the court is more likely to approve. If the move would substantially undermine the child’s relationship with the other parent and the visitation arrangement, approval is less likely.

Other factors like the child’s age or the physical distance can influence practical considerations, and a parent’s income might matter in related support discussions, but they do not drive the relocation decision in the same way as the direct trade-off between the child’s benefits and the impact on visitation.