If you plan to move out of Alaska after your divorce is over, it could be possible to maintain custody if it is in the best interest of your children. However, you will probably have several things to consider.
One of the best ways to accomplish your goal of out-of-state living is to work together with your spouse during the divorce or modification process. However, if this is not practical, you could still have a chance of securing the best possible future for your family. Here are a few points you may want to consider while thinking about your upcoming move.
A likely concern would be the structure of your parenting time. If you plan to live far from your co-parent, consider the common agreements of trading off custody during the school year and summer vacation. The Alaska Court System has this and other parenting plan information online to help you generate some ideas.
No matter how far you intend to move, but especially if you intend to leave Alaska, you may want to consider the cost of going back and forth for your child. Airfare can add up quite quickly. Additionally, younger children may need chaperones. The airlines might also require mandatory custodian programs, which would represent additional travel costs. These expenses would probably be easier to deal with if you work payment responsibilities out ahead of time.
There is no single plan that works for everybody. Your family’s parenting arrangement should be as unique as you are. That way, it has the greatest chance of adapting to changes and keeping you out of conflict with your ex for the foreseeable future. Please do not consider this as legal advice for any material situation. It is only meant to form a general background on the topic.