As of January 1, 2016 Illinois law changes dramatically changed regarding intrastate relocation (moving within the state). Even in light of the Collingbourne Illinois Supreme Court decision, Illinois law had been restrictive in terms of the ability of parents to seek removal. The threat heard by Illinois lawyers in McHenry County and Lake County, where I practice, (which border Wisconsin) had been that if the other spouse refuses to agree is that if there is not an agreement to move to Wisconsin, etc, then the person will move downstate – to Cairo Illinois. [Cairo is the southern most city in Illinois – which has a border with southern Kentucky. Driving distance is approximately seven hours]. All that changed in 2016. Now, relocation is prohibited to far more restrictive boundaries. No longer is the question of whether the move is out of state. Instead, the focus is on whether the move is essentially 25 or 50 miles.
