This article focuses on factors that should be considered when determining whether post-divorce relocation is likely to be beneficial or detrimental to the psychological well-being of children. The article is a reflection on psychological literature and legal cases as opposed to an empirical study. The central arguments of the article are that (a) a continuing shared parental responsibility model rivals the traditional primary caregiver model, (b) downplaying a child's emotional attachment to a non-relocating parent places that child at emotional risk, (c) depriving children of ready access to non-custodian parents to whom they are attached may violate children's rights, and (d) the ‘best interests of the child’ standard has advantages in the evaluation process. Implications of these arguments are discussed and a framework for relocation evaluations is offered. While acknowledging the need to protect parents' mobility rights, the ‘best interests of the child’ is recognised as the principle of paramount importance. In relocation cases, individualised decisions as to a child's best interests necessitate consideration of various factors, which are explicated.
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