b'LEGISLATIONresponsibility to notify the parent whospecifically, home leaves have beenspending time with their child. There looks after the child most of the time, saysconverted for utilization of different typesmight be a letter setting out the schedule Cooley. She draws attention to anotherof travel, including a higher number ofof the parent, she says.new detail: the parent who is planning totrips for kids to go back and forth.relocate must also give notice to anyoneAlthough it imposes new administrative else who has contact under a contactFor the non-custodial parent, somerequirements upon relocating parents, the ordermeaning someone like a grand- companies provide an extra bedroom forupdated Divorce Act above all is designed parent, a stepparent, an aunt or an unclethe assignment location for visiting kidsto help parents avoid disrupting their chil-who has been awarded contact time withor additional travel for return trips to staydrens lives. Its always rewarding when the child by the courts. However, theseconnected, adds Chapman. you have parents who work together, people do not have the right to contest theCooley reports that she has seensays Cooley. Every decision you make, relocation proposal. companies respond to a request to modifyyou make it thinking about your children: Cooley further warns that the relocatingscheduled hours or days of work to helpthats the biggest compliment I can giveparent must be careful to obtain proofa parent present a reasonable plan fora parent. that the notification documents have been received, such as an email receipt or a signed courier waybill, in case the couple ends up in court.THE DETAILSCooley notes that the act only applies to couples who have been legally married and divorced, and to moves that might be expected to represent a big change to the child in question, as opposed to a trip across town that would allow the child to stay in the same school. She offers the opinion that it would cover any reloca-tion, even if its temporary. Three weeks: maybe not, but three months: yes. If its going to impact that childs time with the parent, you still would want to provide that other parent with the information.Once the other parent is notified, if they do not approve the plan, they have 30 days to dispute it or go to court. This can be heart-wrenching, says Cooley. Somebody who potentially has a wonderful opportunity professionally has some very tough decisions to make if the parent or a judge doesnt allow the move.Cooley says that the new version of the act specifically sets out a positive duty of lawyers to advise their client of mediation and alternative dispute resolution. The parties have an obligation also to take advantage of those alternative methods of dispute resolution. Were not supposed to see people in court as a first instance. Theres a positive obligation that parents must protect their children from dispute.The act does not impose particular obliga-tions on employers, but companies have various options to support a divorced parent who is negotiating a relocation. Suzie Chapman is the vice president of global account management with SIRVA Worldwide Relocation and Moving. She recalls a number of cases involving what used to be called custodial parents. We have one client that offers a nanny allow-ance for assignment- and transfer-related relocations, she says. For assignments Winter 2021PERSPECTIVES23'