Sharing custody of minor children generally means managing certain limitations imposed on parental rights. Parents have to agree on major decisions in most cases and have to follow the schedule for parenting time.
They may also have certain restrictions imposed on their behavior when they are with their children. They may not be able to leave the children with childcare professionals or family members without first communicating with the other parent, for example. In some cases, a parent may want to travel with the children as a way of bonding with them after a difficult time.
Do parents have the option of traveling out of state if they are subject to a shared custody order?
Most parents can travel domestically without issue
Occasionally, such as when there are legitimate reasons to worry about parental kidnapping, a custody order may include specific provisions limiting out-of-state travel. However, most parents can travel anywhere within the domestic United States that they want during their parenting time.
Pre-approval is only required in move-away scenarios, when planning international trips or when a custody order specifically requires advance permission for out-of-state travel. So long as a parent can make the trip work with their allocated parenting time, they do not need the permission from the other parent to take their children to Oregon or even New York. That being said, communication can go a long way toward preventing co-parenting conflicts in the future.
Learning more about the rules that apply in shared custody scenarios can help parents assert themselves. Those who wish to travel usually have the opportunity to do so. However, they may want to review their custody order before booking plane tickets just to be safe.