25/08/2026
Can she move interstate with your kids?
Not automatically. Not without dealing with you first.
If a move would meaningfully change your relationship with your children, it usually needs your written agreement or a court order. And the courts don't just measure kilometres, they look at what the move actually does to the time you spend with your kids. A two-hour drive can matter more than a flight, depending on your work, your roster, and their school week.
Under the Family Law Act 1975, the children's best interests come first. That includes their relationship with both parents, their safety, their own views, and what changes if they go. The court will also ask a practical question: can it still work? School holidays, video calls, who pays for flights, who does the airport run.
If she's already gone, don't wait. The longer children are settled somewhere new, the harder it gets to unwind. That's not a scare tactic — it's forty years of watching how these matters run.
We only work with Dads. Four offices across NSW and the ACT, fixed fees, and phone or video appointments anywhere in Australia.
If you've been told about a move — or you've come home to an empty house — call us today on (02) 4704 9977.
www.mannionlawyers.com.au