Relocation and Custody in Wales: What You Need to Know

You've been offered a job in Bristol. Your parents live in Manchester and can help with childcare. Or maybe you just need a fresh start. Whatever the reason, moving with your child after separation is one of the most legally sensitive decisions you can make in Wales.

Under the Children Act 1989, no parent can unilaterally relocate a child if someone else holds Parental Responsibility. That applies whether you're moving across Wales or across the world.

Do You Need Permission to Move?

If a Child Arrangements Order is in place stating the child "lives with" you, you cannot move the child outside England and Wales for more than 28 days without written consent from every person with Parental Responsibility — or a court order.

Even within England and Wales, a move that would substantially disrupt the child's existing contact arrangements, schooling, or community ties can be challenged in court. There is no specific distance threshold written into the law, but any move that makes the current custody schedule unworkable will attract scrutiny.

If no court order exists, you technically have more flexibility — but the other parent can apply for a Prohibited Steps Order to block the move while the court considers the child's welfare.

Prohibited Steps Orders

A Prohibited Steps Order (PSO) prevents a parent from taking a specific action without court approval. In relocation cases, a PSO is the tool the non-moving parent uses to block the move.

The court will grant a PSO if it believes the proposed move could harm the child or significantly disrupt their relationship with the other parent. Common scenarios include:

• A parent planning to move several hours away, making midweek contact impossible
• A parent intending to relocate abroad without the other parent's knowledge
• A parent removing the child from their current school without agreement

A PSO can be applied for on an emergency "without notice" basis if there is an immediate risk the child will be removed from the jurisdiction.

Specific Issue Orders

A Specific Issue Order (SIO) is the mirror image — it's the tool the relocating parent uses to ask the court for permission to move.

When deciding whether to grant a SIO for relocation, the court applies the welfare checklist under Section 1(3) of the Children Act 1989. The key factors include:

• The child's wishes and feelings (weighted by age and maturity)
• The child's educational and social needs at their current location versus the proposed destination
• The quality of the child's relationship with both parents and the likely impact of the move
• The relocating parent's reasons — genuine career or family support needs carry more weight than a desire to limit the other parent's contact
• Whether a revised contact schedule can maintain the child's relationship with the non-moving parent

The Pathfinder Difference

In Welsh Pathfinder courts (North Wales, Cardiff, Gwent, Mid and West Wales), relocation disputes are handled through early multi-agency investigation. Cafcass Cymru will produce a Child Impact Report within six weeks that directly addresses the proposed move's effect on the child — including the child's own views.

This is faster than the traditional Section 7 report process, which typically takes 12 to 16 weeks.

Practical Steps Before Making a Decision

Before committing to a move, take these steps:

1. Talk to the other parent first. A documented, good-faith conversation (even if it doesn't produce agreement) strengthens your position if the matter reaches court.
2. Propose a revised contact schedule. Show the court you've thought about how the child will maintain their relationship with the other parent — longer holiday stays, video calls, and travel cost sharing.
3. Attend a MIAM. You'll need a mediator's FM1 certificate before filing any court application unless a domestic abuse exemption applies.
4. Keep records. Save messages showing your attempts to negotiate. Courts respond well to evidence of cooperative intent.

Moving with your child doesn't have to become a courtroom battle, but it does require planning. The Wales Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a relocation planning worksheet that walks you through the consent process, revised scheduling options, and what to include in a Specific Issue Order application.

See more Wales guides →