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Relocation After Divorce - Research into Effects of Relocation and Family Law

Author: Megan Gollop | Subject: Research Room

Created On: 2007-10-18 | Last Edited On: 2008-01-31

Call for Participants in Relocation after Parental Separation Study A world-first study on relocation matters after parental separation is currently being conducted by a research team from the Children’s Issues Centre (Dr Nicola Taylor and Ms Megan Gollop) and the Faculty of Law (Professor Mark Henaghan) at the University of Otago. Funded by the New Zealand Law Foundation, this 3-year research project aims to explore the impact on families when one parent has relocated with the children, either within New Zealand or overseas, and this move has had a significant impact on contact arrangements between the children and their left-behind parent. The parent who wants to move usually has very good reasons for wanting to do so. These might include better employment prospects, a new partner, extended family support, a return to their homeland or an escape from violence. However, the other parent frequently opposes the relocation on the basis that it will limit their contact with their children. They are devastated at the idea that they might just see their children only once, or a few times, a year during school holidays, rather than every weekend. The cost of visits also impacts greatly on these families when the relocation involves significant distance between the parents’ homes. Relocation is one of the most controversial and difficult issues in family law. Despite this, no previous research has ever been undertaken on the quality of family relationships following a parenting dispute over relocation, nor the welfare and best interests of children in these situations. The study is designed to address these issues and involves a Trans-Tasman collaboration with researchers from the University of Sydney, who are conducting a parallel study in Australia. One hundred families from across New Zealand are being sought to participate in the study and share their experiences. Ideally, each parent (and their children aged 7 years or more) will be interviewed twice, with a 12 month gap between interviews so that family relationships and contact arrangements can be tracked over time. Families will only be interviewed after their case has been resolved to avoid the research interfering with any current proceedings within the Family Court. Some parents may have reached their own agreement about the relocation, while others might have negotiated through their lawyers, or attended counselling, mediation or a court hearing. The researchers are interested in talking with families where the relocation with the children went ahead, but also those cases where the relocation did not proceed – either because the parent changed their mind or the Family Court declined their application to relocate. There is a vital need for research that contributes to our understanding about the effects of parental and court decisions that restrict, or enable, relocation. Knowing what happens for parents and children in the aftermath of a relocation will help families, lawyers and Family Court judges to make better decisions in the future. A literature review and an analysis of New Zealand family law judgments on relocation matters are also being undertaken as part of the project. Twenty-five New Zealand families are already involved in the study and the researchers hope that more will be willing to talk to them about their relocation experience. Anyone interested in obtaining a brochure, taking part in the study, or learning more about it is welcome to contact the researchers via their toll-free phone number 0800 0800 88, or by email megan.gollop@otago.ac.nz or nicola.taylor@otago.ac.nz This research is being conducted by & © Divorce.co.nz Updated 18th October 2007

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