1. Talk to your partner about the move

Let your partner, or anyone with rights to your child under a court order, know that you’re thinking about moving before you take steps to move. Tell them:

• The reasons you want to move with your child.
• Why you believe it’s best for your child to move.
• What changes, if any, have to be made because of the move, for example, changes to your child’s daycare or school.
• How you plan to deal with changes, if any, to decision-making responsibility, parenting time, or contact because of the move. These used to be called custody and access.

Remember that it’s usually best for your child to spend time with each parent. But there is no rule that each parent must spend equal time with the child.

You can talk to your partner on your own, with the help of someone you both trust, or with the help of a family law professional such as a lawyer or mediator. Talking to your partner may not be an option where there is a history of partner abuse.

Even if you’ve spoken to your partner about the move, the rules say you must give written notice before you take steps to move. This is called notice. See Step 3 for more information on notice.