Americans are constantly on the move. It is part of our culture to seek better opportunities in new locations. Moving a family so that a parent can take on a new job with improved prospects is a common event.
Relocating with children for a job is a unique experience, however. Clearly, if a person has children, they need to give careful thought to the resources they have available to them in their current location that help their children thrive. They want to do their research about whether comparable resources would be available to them in their new location.
Of course, if a person is married, they want to consider their spouse as well. If a person is divorced or legally separated, they may have to consider legal issues such as child custody and visitation.
Why Is Job Relocation with Children Unique?
Relocating with children requires careful thought about how the change affects the lives of their children and their parents as well. It may have a significant effect on a family’s budget as housing, schools, childcare options and other expenses must be dealt with. It takes much more planning to move with children for these reasons.
How Should I Prepare to Relocate with My Children?
Key to the success of relocating with children would be adequate planning. A person needs to identify the resources they need to replicate for their children to thrive. They want to analyze the housing they need, whether their children can go to the public schools in the new location or would need to go to private schools. A person wants to think about childcare to cover times when the children are not in school and the parents cannot be available to care for them.
Studying the housing market could be one essential step to take. The price of housing varies greatly in different regions in the U.S. A house that is affordable in one location may not be affordable in another. A person would need to analyze the housing they need and whether it is available at a price they can afford in the new location.
They may want to analyze whether they should rent their housing or buy residential property. It would help to consult what experts say about when it makes sense to invest in real property and when it does not. Generally, investment advisors say that a person should not buy real property unless they plan to spend at least 5 years in the house. There are other factors to consider as well, e.g. market conditions, and a person should do the analysis so as to make the best financial decision.
Likewise, the quality of public schools can be very different in different locales. The quality of public schools in the new location should be researched. A parent wants to determine whether they are acceptable or whether the child would need a private school option. If private school is indicated, the parent wants to know whether an acceptable private school is accessible and affordable.
Should I Discuss the Relocation with My Children?
A person would definitely want to have age-appropriate discussions about a relocation with their children. They want to let them know about the changes the move will make in their life and how the family is going to manage them. They might talk about school and how they will find a new school and adapt to it. They may talk about a new house and what it will be like.
Of course, the parent wants to maintain a positive attitude and talk about the benefits the move will bring to the entire family.
What Legal Issues Might Arise in Connection with Relocation?
A number of legal issues may arise when a person relocates with children to take a new job. Firstly, a person may want to be sure that the new job is a good fit and that they have a solid employment contract with their new employer. An employment lawyer may be helpful in making sure that a person’s contract fully protects their rights.
If a person plans to sell a house and purchase a new one in transactions that would involve mortgage loans and real estate agents, a person may want the advice of a real estate lawyer to review loan documents and purchase and sale agreements. Even if a person leases their home and plans to lease a new one in their new location, a real estate lawyer can help with rental agreements.
As mentioned above, if a person is divorced or separated and has custody and/or visitation plans with their former spouse, relocation with the child of the former marriage would be a significant issue and one which a person would want to resolve before accepting a new job in a distant location. A family law lawyer can help with these issues.
What Kind of Budget Do I Need?
A lot depends on whether a person is relocating to take on a new job or relocating without a promised job in the new location. If a person is relocating without the promise of a job, they need to calculate whether they have the savings needed to pay all living expenses for at least 6 months until they find employment.
A person who is relocating to take a new job with a known salary and benefits still needs to plan a budget for their new life in a new location. One strategy for financial planning is to remember the 50/30/20 rule. According to this rule, a person should devote 50% of their monthly budget to needs, 30% to the things they want and 20% to savings and/or paying down debt.
This rule can provide guidance to a person as to what kind of housing they can afford. If a person wants to buy a house, the 50/30/20 rule and mortgage calculators available from mortgage lenders can help them figure out how much house they can afford in the new location.
How Do I Manage the Emotional Impact?
Moving is stressful for kids, who have to leave behind good friends, teachers and a familiar life. They face a significant challenge in making new friends and adjusting to a new school. Of course, because the child did not choose the relocation for themselves, it can help to give them control over issues where possible.
Experts recommend thinking ahead. A parent might work with the child to anticipate challenges and formulate strategies and solutions ahead of time. For example, a child might express anxiety about making new friends.
A parent can help them problem solve and think about ways in which they will be able to meet the challenge. Once the move happens, the child can put their plans into action and can then talk to their parents about whether strategies have worked and if not, what to do next.
What Should I Do on Moving Day and While Settling In?
It is important to remember that experts recommend giving children opportunities to exercise some amount of control over events. Packing and organizing belongings presents one possible opportunity for children to feel in control. To the extent possible, a parent might want to include their child in the packing and organizing of the child’s own important belongings, e.g. most beloved toys, favorite clothes and the like.
Labeling boxes in such a way that a child knows which boxes contain their stuff can help put the damper on feelings children may have that their special belongings could be lost in the shuffle.
Organizing a move, especially if there is a great distance to be traveled to the new destination, again requires planning and organization. A person wants to be on top of coordinating the arrival of the mover, packing, cleaning the residence one is leaving and then arriving at the new destination. Timing would be key of course and a person wants to have a well-developed schedule.
How Do I Help My Family Adjust to Their New Environment?
A person can help their children develop positive feelings about their new home by allowing them to choose a new room and then unpack their stuff and organize their room to their liking. Experts recommend duplicating former routines in the new home as much as possible as this helps children feel comfortable in their new environment.
Experts say that hanging on to told routines is important even if the family has not fully unpacked in their new home. To the extent possible, stick with established mealtimes that include favorite foods. Stick with established bedtimes making bed set-up a first priority. And be sure to let children know that their parents are always available to help and to listen.
A person wants to help their children stay in touch with family and friends they may have left behind in their former home. With the Internet and social media, maintaining contact is easy. While maintaining friendships, it is also important to try to build a new network of friends and support.
A person may want to identify places where they can meet new people with shared interests and values, e.g. a new place of worship or clubs for activities. Signing children up for sports at school is a good way to help them connect to new friends.
Of course, of primary importance is remembering to enjoy a new adventure and the pleasure of discovering a new place and the interests and attractions it has to offer.
How Do I Navigate a New Workplace?
Of course, in the beginning of a new job, a parent may have more demands on their time at work than they might otherwise. They need a strategy for dealing with this and for maintaining a work-life balance.
Between the demands of a new job, setting up a new house and establishing a new life for their family, the demands on a person and their time may be considerable. A person wants to be aware of these challenges and be sure to take time for themselves. Everything is not going to be achieved at once. It all takes time and a person wants to give themselves that time.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Help with My Relocation Issues?
If you have accepted a new job in a new location, a lawyer may be able to help. If the move is going to involve mortgage issues or other issues involved in buying and selling real estate, a mortgage lawyer may prove helpful. If leasing property is the issue, a landlord-tenant lawyer may be what you need.
You may want to be sure you have a favorable employment contract that protects your rights. An employment lawyer might be able to help with contract issues.
If you are divorced or separated and a former spouse has an interest in custody and visitation issues, then you may need the help of a family law attorney to iron out modified custody and visitation arrangements.
Consulting the right lawyer can help make this challenging transition flow more smoothly. LegalMatch.com can easily connect you to the right lawyer so you can get the right advice that you need now.
