A Board Certified Family Law
Specialist Pursuing Positive
Outcomes to Domestic Disputes
Specialist Pursuing Positive
Outcomes to Domestic Disputes
Relocation not Allowed
In a thoughtful opinion thoroughly reviewing the evidence against the relevant factors, the Court of Appeal reversed a trial judge’s ruling that had permitted a mother to relocate from Louisiana to West Virginia. Elizabeth Kingrey and Doug Trahan were the parents of a five year old boy born out of wedlock. From his birth, Doug and his extended family were active in Devon’s life. Elizabeth and Doug shared custody of Devon on a 50-50 basis. When Elizabeth and her husband moved away, Doug sought custody of Devon. The trial judge concluded that Elizabeth had moved away in “good faith” and should be the domiciliary parent in a joint custody arrangement. The Court of Appeals disagreed finding that Doug’s and his family’s close and loving relationship with Devon trumped whatever good might come of Elizabeth and her husband’s move to West Virginia. Trahan v. Kingrey, May 4, 2012.