In re Marriage of Kenney

2023 IL App (1st) 221558-U

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: June 20, 2023
• Docket: 1-22-1558
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

2023 IL App (1st) 221558-U

SECOND DIVISION June 20, 2023

No. 1-22-1558

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ____________________________________________________________________________

IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT ____________________________________________________________________________

In re MARRIAGE OF: ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) of Cook County. JOHN MATTHEW KENNEY, JR., ) ) Petitioner-Appellant, ) ) No. 2018 D 5945 v. ) ) JANET AMBER STRANG, ) The Honorable ) Debra Walker, Respondent-Appellee. ) Judge Presiding. ____________________________________________________________________________

PRESIDING JUSTICE FITZGERALD SMITH delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Howse and Ellis concurred in the judgment.

ORDER

HELD: Trial court’s grant of respondent’s petition for relocation of the parties’ minor children from Illinois to Colorado was not against the manifest weight of the evidence as demonstrated by the record and the court’s thorough application of the relevant statutory factors to the evidence presented.

¶1 Following the filing of his petition for dissolution of marriage, petitioner-appellant John

Matthew Kenney, Jr. (John) and respondent-appellee Janet Amber Strang (Amber) proceeded

through protracted litigation until the trial court entered its bifurcated judgment that is the No. 1-22-1558

subject of the instant appeal. Of relevance here, the trial court granted Amber’s request to

relocate with the parties’ minor children from Cook County, Illinois, to Colorado Springs,

Colorado. John appeals that determination, contending that the trial court erred in failing to

regard the case as a relocation matter pursuant to statute, erred as a matter of law when it

disregarded a prior legal finding, and ultimately erred in weighing the evidence presented.

He asks that we reverse the trial court’s decision granting Amber’s request and/or remand the

matter. For the following reasons, we affirm.

¶2 BACKGROUND

¶3 As noted, the record herein is voluminous and the litigation between the parties was

intense. Some ten witnesses testified at trial with respect to the children and the issues of

parental decision-making, allocation of parenting time, and relocation, including the parties,

court-appointed and retained professional witnesses, and various lay witnesses. We present

those facts pertinent to the court’s decision regarding relocation, as that is the only portion of

its decision at issue on appeal.

¶4 In April 2016, very shortly after they began dating, John and Amber discovered they

were pregnant with twins. They married on June 24, 2016, in Santa Barbara, California. At

the time, John, an attorney licensed in Illinois, was working in Chicago and owned property

on North Willard Street; his immediate family, including his parents, siblings, and their

children lived in the area. Meanwhile, Amber, a commercial real estate agent, was working

and living temporarily in Dallas, Texas, but also maintained a home in Colorado Springs

which she had owned for at least a decade; her immediate family, including her parents,

siblings, and their children, lived in that area.

2 No. 1-22-1558

¶5 Essentially, the parties split their time between Chicago and Colorado during the

pregnancy and marriage. For example, they traveled regularly and very often to and from the

areas (alone and together) until Amber could no longer travel medically. They then chose to

deliver the twins in Chicago at Northwestern Medical Center due to its excellent neonatal

unit. Amber reserved daycare and Montessori school spots for the twins before they were

born at facilities in Chicago. However, they were never enrolled here. John and Amber also

agreed to renovate John’s Willard Street property for the twins’ arrival; they hired an interior

designer with whom Amber and her mother met, and Amber signed a lease for an apartment

near that home where they could stay during the renovations.

¶6 The parties’ twins were born prematurely on December 16, 2016 at Northwestern. Due

to complications, they were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and were not released

from the hospital until the end of January 2017. The twins needed physical therapy and

follow-up care for a heart murmur and plagiocephaly, and they saw doctors in Illinois until

approximately March 2018.1 However, as soon as they were cleared to travel in April 2017,

four months after their birth, Amber began traveling with them frequently and regularly

between Chicago to Colorado, splitting time between the two states, while John typically

stayed in Chicago to work. As the record demonstrates, these trips were consistent and

almost monthly, and they would spend two or more weeks in each location (sometimes more,

sometimes less). Accordingly, the twins consistently remained with Amber for a vast

majority of the time, and she was their primary caregiver. In addition, when she had to travel

for business, she often flew with the children to Colorado and left them in the care of her

1 The twins continue to have some health problems related to their premature birth. 3 No. 1-22-1558

parents, as opposed to leaving them with John in Chicago. While Amber applied for a gym

membership for her and the children in Chicago, she never obtained an Illinois driver’s

license, never voted in Illinois, and never became affiliated with any church here; in fact, the

parties agreed to have the twins baptized in Colorado, which they did. The children also saw

health providers in both Chicago and Colorado during this time. With respect to tax returns,

in 2016, John and Amber first filed married but separately, with John using Chicago as his

residence and Amber using Colorado as hers; they later amended their federal return to file

married and jointly, using Chicago as their residence. In 2017, they filed a joint federal

return, this time using Colorado as their residence, and they each filed separate state returns,

with John filing an Illinois return and Amber filing a Colorado return. The parties also filed

a tax return for the twins, who received income from modeling, and that return listed

Colorado as their residence. Additionally, John applied to be admitted to practice law in

Colorado and completed the state’s licensure process. In May 2018, he drove Amber’s car

and towed his boat to Colorado, where he left it. And, the parties together applied for

passports for the twins, and both attested that the twins’ residence was Colorado.

¶7 On May 1, 2018, Amber and the twins went to Colorado. They did not return to Chicago.

¶8 On July 26, 2018, John filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in Illinois, as well as an

“Emergency Motion for the Return of the Minor Children to their Home State.” In his

emergency motion, he claimed the twins’ home state was Illinois, asserting they were born

here, received medical care here, and the parties resided here in the leased apartment. He

alleged he and Amber intended to move into the Willard Street property once construction

was completed, with Amber taking the children to Colorado in May for what was supposed

4 No. 1-22-1558

to be a temporary stay, but then refused to return to Chicago. Four days later, on July 31,

2018, Amber filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in Colorado. 2 In August 2018,

Amber moved (among other things) to dismiss John’s petition for dissolution in Illinois for

lack of personal jurisdiction, alleging her residence throughout the marriage had always been

Colorado, and her contact with Chicago was limited to only birthing the children, leasing the

apartment to be close to the hospital due to the children’s medical needs upon birth, and

returning only for their necessary medical appointments from time to time.

¶9 On March 15, 2019, the trial court, following a hearing, denied Amber’s motion to

dismiss John’s petition for lack of personal jurisdiction, finding her claims that she was only

in Illinois for the birth of the children to be “without merit.” First, with respect to Amber

herself, the court, after examining the Illinois Long Arm Statute (735 ILCS 5/2-209 (West

2018)), concluded that it had jurisdiction over her as she had sufficient contacts with Illinois,

including signing the apartment lease, applying for daycare before the twins were born, and

performing work here via her employment. With respect to the children, the court stated that

the question of whether it had jurisdiction over them “is much more involved.” The court

noted that section 201 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act

(UCCJEA) gives a state jurisdiction to make an initial custody determination only if it is the

“home state” of the children at the time of the commencement of the proceeding “or was

the[ir] home state * * * within 6 months before the commencement of the proceeding and the

child is absent from this State but a parent * * * continues to live in this State.” 750 ILCS

2 The record indicates that, because Amber failed to mention John’s prior filing in Illinois in her pleading, which is prohibited by Colorado law, her petition was not addressed on its merits by that court. 5 No. 1-22-1558

36/201 (West 2018). It further noted that section 102 defines “home state” as the state in

which a child lived with a parent “for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately before

the commencement of the child-custody proceeding.” 750 ILCS 36/102 (West 2018).

Examining the evidence presented, the court commented that, in the case of these parties,

“[t]he reality is that the children did not live in either Illinois or Colorado continuously for [a]

six[-]month period immediately prior to the commencement of the action on July 26, 2018,”

and ultimately, “[t]here was no testimony adduced at trial indicating that the parties ever

agreed as to where they would live with the twins.” Because of this, the court turned to an

examination of whether the twins and Amber had some significant connection to Illinois to

qualify it as the twins’ home state, and it found that there was. It cited, for example, that

Amber continued to fly the twins to Chicago for medical appointments that their Chicago

pediatrician confirmed could have been conducted by other doctors elsewhere, Amber

brought them to a modeling casting call in Chicago, and she admitted she never told John she

had no intention of permanently residing in Illinois or that she was not going to return with

the children when she last left. The court concluded that, even though “[t]his is truly an issue

of the parties having a multistate relationship,” for the sake of the instant jurisdictional

question, the twins’ home state was Illinois.

¶ 10 Following this, Amber filed a “Petition to Relocate with Minor Children and Entry of a

Parenting Plan and/or Allocation Order.” In it, Amber averred that John was aware of her

desire to raise the twins in Colorado since April 2017 and that Colorado has been her

domicile for 12 years and her residence throughout the entire marriage. She further asserted

that the children have spent the majority of their lives in Colorado and it is the most suitable

6 No. 1-22-1558

environment in which to raise them for myriad reasons, including the home she owns there,

her extended family, educational opportunities, and her professional licensure. Multiple

additional filings ensued between the parties, including a motion to dismiss Amber’s petition

to relocate, as well as petitions to enforce trial court orders and a petition and amended

petition for temporary allocation of parenting time filed by John. Amid all this, the trial court

appointed Pamela Kuzniar as guardian ad litem for the twins and Dr. Alan Ravitz to perform

an evaluation 3 regarding relocation and allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting

time. Additionally, John filed his own motion for evaluation by a retained professional

pursuant to statute, and Dr. Louis Kraus was permitted to issue a report, as well. Motion

practice and hearings continued, and on September 9, 2020, while the trial court denied an

emergency motion filed by John for temporary allocation of sole decision-making authority

regarding preschool enrollment, it sua sponte ordered the parties to “exchange the children at

an agreed location every two weeks” and to maintain this schedule while litigation

proceeded. It also asked the parties to submit proposed allocation judgments regarding

parental responsibilities and parenting plans. John’s plan called for the children to remain in

Illinois and for joint decision-making and equal parenting time, with the assumption that

Amber would reside in Illinois. Amber’s plan proposed relocation of the children to

Colorado, final decision-making in some areas of their lives to be given solely to her, and a

parenting schedule with visitation for John. In the meantime, the parties each filed motions

3 The parties raised some concern in the trial court with respect to certain portions of Ravitz’s report containing an outdated legal standard, and urged it not to consider these portions. The record reflects that the trial court only considered Ravitz’s report for its findings of fact and final evaluation provided, and noted it did not consider any mention of a legal standard, as he was not ordered to provide one. 7 No. 1-22-1558

seeking to enroll the twins in preschool in their respective states. The trial court entered an

order allowing each party to do so for their parenting time, and the twins attended preschool

half the month in La Grange, Illinois, and half the month in Colorado, in accordance with the

court’s imposed “two-week on, two-week off” schedule.

¶ 11 The cause finally proceeded to trial in June 2022. The twins were now five-and-a half

years old and would soon attend kindergarten. Testimony and evidence provided by the

witnesses was lengthy and is relatively uncontested by the parties. Accordingly, we

summarize it briefly here.

¶ 12 John testified with respect to many topics covering time before the birth of the twins to

the institution of the divorce proceedings and his current circumstances. John averred that

when the parties married, they talked about living in Chicago; this is why they chose to

renovate his Willard Street property and Amber leased the apartment near the hospital in the

meantime. John described that Amber consistently participated in the renovations and

communicated repeatedly with the interior designer they hired, and that she extended the

lease on the apartment amid construction. When the twins were born, they were living in

Chicago. His legal practice required him to attend court hearings daily at various locations,

while Amber worked remotely from an office in the parties’ home. According to John, this

allowed her to be the primary caregiver of the twins, including taking them to their medical

appointments, which he could not attend. He also noted that she was the one who researched

daycare and schooling options for them, even before they were born, and regularly traveled

with them to Colorado as soon as four months after their birth. He admitted that Amber was

“pretty much exclusively” the one who cared for the twins. With respect to their divorce,

8 No. 1-22-1558

John claimed that when the apartment lease ended, there was one last month of anticipated

construction on the Willard Street property, so they decided Amber would take the twins to

Colorado for that time to stay at the property she maintained there, which she did in May

2018. When John informed her of the construction’s completion in mid-June, Amber did not

return and evaded his questions until she finally told him in July 2018 that she planned to

stay in Colorado with the twins permanently. He filed his divorce petition soon thereafter.

¶ 13 In addition to testifying with respect to the ensuing proceedings, John discussed the many

visits he had with the twins during this time, as well as trips he took with them and the

increased court-ordered parenting time which culminated in the 2-week on/off schedule

which had now been in place for the last two years. John further testified that he moved to

La Grange, Illinois, where he now has a home, is located much closer to his legal practice,

and is close to various extracurricular opportunities, parks, and religious and enrichment

programs in which the twins can participate. He noted that the twins have neighborhood

friends and a good relationship with their cousins and grandparents who live nearby and have

helped care for them. He also testified about a typical day when he has the twins in Illinois,

the area schools, and the fact that he has already enrolled them in kindergarten in his district.

Finally, John testified that he did not consider the parties to have a multistate relationship

but, rather, that the children had always lived in Illinois and had never lived in Colorado. In

his view, Amber’s travels to Colorado once the twins were born comprised nothing more

than visits there. He averred that he never told Amber he would move to Colorado and he

believed they intended to live in Illinois and raise the twins here.

9 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 14 John’s sister, Elizabeth Kenney Augustine, who is also a La Grange village board trustee,

testified regarding life in that city, her family’s relationship with the twins, and her

observations of John’s relationship with them. She discussed La Grange extensively,

including its award-winning schools, parks, and recreational opportunities. She noted that

she and her family live only seven blocks from John, that her children and the twins play

together frequently, and that their families celebrate many holidays together. She also

described John’s relationship with the twins as very close, involved, and healthy, with

enthusiastic and nurturing components. She further stated that she and Amber never

discussed Amber, John or the twins living outside Illinois. 4

¶ 15 Like John, Amber testified with respect to topics ranging from before the birth of the

twins to the institution of the divorce proceedings to her current circumstances. She stated

that when she met and married John, she lived in corporate housing in Dallas while

maintaining her home in Colorado, which she had had for many years. She averred that

when she found out she was pregnant and that her pregnancy was high-risk, she signed the

lease on the Chicago apartment so she could be near Northwestern Hospital in anticipation of

medical care the twins would need upon and following their birth; she stated she extended

the lease for the same reason. Amber testified that once the twins were born, she was their

primary caregiver, usually bathing, feeding, and putting them to bed before John arrived

home from work, and that John never cared for them on his own during that time. Also,

during that time, John’s parents did not see the twins often. She discussed the twins’ health

4 John presented the testimony of additional friends who further testified with respect to the benefits of living in La Grange as well as their observations of his relationship with the twins. As their testimony provided little impact on the trial court’s decision at issue, we need not repeat it herein. 10 No. 1-22-1558

problems upon birth, and all the research she did, doctors she contacted and medical

appointments she took them to, without John’s assistance. Once the twins were able to fly,

she started flying back and forth with them from Chicago to Colorado, doing so at least seven

times between April 2017 and May 2018, whereupon she brought them to Colorado to stay

permanently. She further testified regarding her home in Colorado, which she described as in

a rural neighborhood that is only ten minutes from Colorado Springs. She erected a

playground on the property for the twins, and they maintain horses and family pets, including

dogs and cats to which the twins are bonded. She also transformed her living room into a

Montessori play space, and she has enrolled the twins for kindergarten in The Classical

Academy, an area school. The neighborhood contains many other children who are friends

with the twins; Amber has also started a moms’ support group and the twins participate in

various extracurricular activities, with her parents interacting with/caring for the twins

multiple times a week and her brother and sister living nearby.

¶ 16 With respect to the two-week on/off parenting schedule, Amber testified it has been hard

on the twins; she noted that they consider Colorado their home as it has been a constant place

in their lives and as John had only recently purchased his La Grange home. Like John, she

testified regarding a typical day with the children while they are with her in Colorado, as well

as what she considered to be the positive and negative attributes of their time with John.

Finally, Amber testified that she never intended, and she and John never spoke about, her

developing her professional business in Chicago so as to move here; she never sought regular

employment in Illinois. Rather, the plan had always been to allow John time to build a legal

11 No. 1-22-1558

practice in Colorado, which he began by obtaining his law license there, and that they would

then all move to Colorado to live as a family.

¶ 17 Wesley Jolly, director of academic services at The Classical Academy, testified with

respect to this school at which Amber had enrolled the twins for its upcoming kindergarten

term. Briefly, he stated that the school is the largest charter school in Colorado, it has 3,700

students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, and it focuses on “classical” education. He

stated that kindergarten classes are capped at 18 students, sports and other extracurricular

activities are offered, and electronic devices are purposefully limited. He further noted that

the school consistently ranks in the top 10-20% of all schools in Colorado.

¶ 18 Court-appointed expert Dr. Ravitz testified about his evaluation of the parties with

respect to relocation and the report he compiled and submitted to the trial court in June 2020.

He explained that in this case, because the parties were clearly both adequate and competent

parents, he did not feel the need to interview anyone other than them to complete an

evaluation as to relocation, and that the parties’ choice to live in different states will

necessarily result in one of them losing their regular physical interaction with the twins upon

the court’s final decision. Moreover, he did not believe either party was being manipulative

in choosing where they wanted to live, but rather, had good faith reasons for their desires and

for wanting the children to stay with them. Dr. Ravitz did not refer to statutory relocation

factors during his evaluation. His ultimate conclusion was that, from a “forensic mental

health standpoint,” the twins should remain in Colorado with Amber. He noted that, as far as

general educational, social, and extracurricular opportunities, there was really no difference

between growing up in Illinois versus growing up in Colorado. However, he found that

12 No. 1-22-1558

Amber is their primary caregiver and has been for their entire lives, a fact John did not

dispute during the evaluation. Accordingly, he noted that what distinguished Illinois and

Colorado most in this case was Amber’s psychological wellbeing, which was of significant

import, as her comfort level as a parent is directly tied to Colorado where her family is

significantly involved in the twins’ lives and upon whom she relies to provide care when she

is not available. While he acknowledged that, at the time this cause was filed, the twins had

spent the majority of their lives physically in Chicago, Colorado has been the twins’

“primary home for all of their conscious lives.” He believed that both parties loved the

children and could meet their needs; however, he concluded that Amber would have more

difficulty meeting those needs if she were in Illinois than John would have meeting those

needs if he were in Colorado. It was his opinion that the twins should remain in Colorado

with Amber and John should have extensive visitation with them.

¶ 19 Dr. Kraus, who, again, was retained upon John’s motion, testified as to the report he

provided to the trial court in 2020. In addition to speaking with John, Amber and the twins,

Dr. Kraus also interviewed family members on both sides including both sets of

grandparents, and he referred to statutory factors in his evaluation. Regarding Amber, Dr.

Kraus commented that she was insistent that she and the twins had always lived in Colorado

and that John long knew that this was the family’s plan; however, Dr. Kraus noted that he

found no information to verify this and he characterized Amber’s trip with the twins to

Colorado in May 2018 as “a set up[,] almost deception,” giving the impression she was going

to return but knew she would not. Regarding John, Dr. Kraus averred there was a strong

bond between him and the twins during the evaluation with “very positive interaction.” Dr.

13 No. 1-22-1558

Kraus observed that both extended families were supportive of the twins, with John’s in La

Grange being larger and Amber’s in Colorado being smaller, but with Amber’s parents being

particularly involved with them and their spending more time with the twins to be an

“immediate enhancement” for the twins should they remain in Colorado. Dr. Kraus

additionally considered both schools at issue and determined their comparison to be “a

wash.” When asked to give his opinion within a reasonable degree of medical certainty

whether the twins should relocate to Colorado, Dr. Kraus opined that they should not. He

noted it would worsen the relationship between them and John and make it “more difficult to

sustain in the level that would be sustained if he was having regular interactions with” them

were they in Illinois. When asked about a reasonable parenting time schedule, he opined that

one could not exist if the twins remained in Colorado, and that one could only be

implemented if the twins and both parents were in Illinois. However, he also opined that

were both parties and the children to remain in the same state (either Illinois or Colorado),

John should not be given equal parenting time, as he desired. Rather, Dr. Kraus

recommended that John should have parenting time 5 out of every 14 overnights, with

Thursday through Monday one week and Thursday only the next week, and that Amber

should have the children the remaining 9 out of 14 overnights. Dr. Kraus pointed out that

John admitted to him that when he and Amber were together, she typically performed 75% of

the child care duties and he performed about 25%. Though acknowledging that the twins

“could do well in either location,” Dr. Kraus opined that the twins should not be allowed to

relocate and should remain in Illinois due to the manner in which Amber left and the effect

relocation would have on their relationship with John.

14 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 20 Guardian ad litem (GAL) Kuzinar testified with respect to her investigation, evaluation

and report to the trial court, which included meetings with the parties and the twins, visits to

the parties’ homes, discussions with Drs. Ravitz and Kraus, and supplemental reporting that

brought her investigation through January 2022. Kuzinar described the cause as “more

complex than simple relocation,” as “the parties resided in two different states, and the

children traveled from state to state.” Noting the court’s prior order that classified the

parties’ relationship as multistate and with the children not residing continuously in either

state for a period of six months before the divorce petition was filed, Kuzinar believed the

cause was not a traditional relocation matter but, instead, focused her investigation and

evaluation slightly more on who would be the appropriate primary parent, with relocation to

flow from that determination, namely, were it to be John, the children should live in Illinois

and were it to be Amber, they should live in Colorado. Critically, Kunzinar testified that her

investigation and reports examined every one of the statutory factors regarding relocation;

she gathered information on each of them and provided that to the trial court.

¶ 21 It was Kuzinar’s belief that the current situation arose because when John and Amber

became involved and married, they never discussed her intent to remain in Colorado and his

intent to remain in Illinois. With respect to Amber, Kuzinar testified that she “has been a

hyper-diligent mom” who had prepared for the twins’ education, medical and child care since

before they were born. Her home in Colorado affords each twin his own bedroom and the

boys share a bathroom; the home is arranged like a Montessori school and has a large

basement, a playground, horses and pets. The twins have a variety of activities available to

them in Colorado, and they are very close to Amber’s parents, who they see multiple times a

15 No. 1-22-1558

week and who help care for them often. With respect to John, Kuzinar testified that he works

long hours when the twins are not with him, and he would have to arrange childcare for them

were they to live in Illinois, as his parents could not care for them due to their ages and lack

of mobility. At John’s home, the twins share a bedroom and they and John share a bathroom.

At the time of her visit, John’s home was not childproofed and had some safety issues.

While Amber was very detailed in communicating with John and quick to respond on the

Our Family Wizard app, John was slower to communicate and sometimes did not respond at

all. Moreover, John admitted that Amber was the twins’ “primary parent” and had no

complaints about her care of them. Kuzinar examined the parties’ proposed parenting plans,

noting that Amber’s acknowledged and provided for the parties living in different states

while John’s required them to both live in Illinois. She further averred that, even if the

parties both lived in Illinois, John’s own expert, Dr. Kraus, recommended John have less than

the 50% parenting time his proposal sought. Kuzinar stated she, likewise, would not support

giving John primary residency of the children in Illinois. Ultimately, Kuzinar’s

recommendation was that the twins should reside in Colorado with Amber. Since the parties

wanted to remain in their respective states, she would support Amber as the primary parent, a

conclusion she noted was in line with both Drs. Ravitz and Kraus’ recommendations.

¶ 22 Following the hearing, the trial court presented a lengthy oral ruling, accompanied soon

thereafter by a detailed written decision, addressing allocation of parenting time, allocation of

decision-making, and Amber’s petition for relocation. At the outset, the court noted for the

record that it had reviewed everything presented, including the pleadings, prior court orders,

expert witness reports, trial exhibits, photographs, and the applicable statutes, and that if it

16 No. 1-22-1558

did not refer to some piece of evidence specifically, that did not mean it had not considered

it. The court also made clear that it found both parties to be “wonderful and loving parents,”

and it was its belief that, when they married, which occurred quickly after they met and

experienced an unplanned pregnancy, they were “living in two different states” and they “just

didn’t know each other;” Amber “never understood” John’s commitment to remain in Illinois

and practice law and John “never understood” Amber’s attachment to Colorado and her

family. After viewing their testimonies, the court noted that it was “not sure [it] had the full

story” from Amber regarding her original intention when she went to Colorado with the

twins in May 2018, and similarly, it “was not sure” with respect to John’s intention when he

moved his boat to Colorado during that same time and pursued legal licensure there. In any

event, it found both parties credible with positive demeanors while testifying but “somewhat

evasive in their communications with each other,” which led to the cause being a “complex

and difficult” one to resolve. The court further found Amber’s lay witness Jolly and John’s

lay witness Augustine to be credible, and Dr. Ravitz to be “very credible,” Dr. Kraus to be

“credible and straightforward,” and GAL Kuzniar to be “very credible” and that she had

“conducted a thorough investigation and showed a fabulous demeanor on the witness stand.”

¶ 23 After these preliminary comments, the court turned to the three issues presented. First, it

addressed each of the 15 statutory factors regarding allocation of decision-making contained

in section 602.5(c) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) (750

ILCA 5/602.5(c) (West 2018)), and after its analysis, found they favored Amber and, thus, it

allocated sole decision-making to her over the twins’ medical and educational matters. Next,

the court addressed each of the 17 statutory factors regarding allocation of parenting time

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contained in section 602.7(c) of the IMDMA (750 ILCA 5/602.7(c) (West 2018)), and after

its analysis, found they favored Amber; it then issued a detailed breakdown of the parties’

awarded parenting time in accordance with its decision.

¶ 24 Finally, and at issue in the instant cause, the trial court addressed each of the 11 factors

regarding relocation contained in section 609.2(g) of the IMDMA (750 ILCS 5/609.2) (West

2018)), and after its analysis, granted Amber’s petition to relocate the twins to Colorado.

Before doing so, it commented on two initial matters: prior litigation and statutory notice

requirements. First, it discussed the prior trial court orders of March 2019 (the UCCJEA

jurisdictional finding that the twins’ home state was Illinois) and September 2020 (the sua

sponte two-week on/off schedule implemented while custody litigation was pending). The

court noted that with respect to the latter, and up until that point, “the children’s primary

residence was always with [Amber], wherever she was located;” with respect to the former, it

concurred with the previous trial court and similarly concluded that “the children lived in a

multi-state existence throughout their lives and have continued to do so.” It reasoned that the

home state order “was issued for adjudication of jurisdictional issues” only, and Illinois was

properly chosen because, since the children has not resided in either state for six months prior

to the filing of the divorce petition, and given that John had filed first and did so in Illinois, it

was reasonable for Illinois to assert jurisdiction over the twins. Second, the court noted that

Amber had properly filed her petition for relocation, even though she had not technically

complied with section 609.2’s statutory written notice requirement before doing so. The

court stated that Amber “has continuously exercised either the majority of parenting time, or,

since the September 2020 order of Court, no less than equal parenting time.” The court

18 No. 1-22-1558

found that because of this, and in addition to “the specific and unique facts presented,” the

written notice requirement “does not fit here[, a]nd to the extent that provision is applicable,

any failure to satisfy it does not preclude [Amber from] obtaining relief from this Court.” It

further specified that it could not, nor did not, find her proposed “relocation” was without

good cause or done in bad faith, particularly since she had maintained a home in Colorado

since 2006, long before, as well as throughout the entirety of, the parties’ marriage.

¶ 25 In turning to the statutory relocation factors, the court began by stating that “the present

matter is not strictly speaking a relocation case” in that the “unique facts specific to the

parties’ residences and their children’s lives present an unusual hybrid case.” The court

found the first factor, reasons for intended relocation, favored Amber, as her “support

system, improved environment and happiness” as “the long-term primary caretaker” of the

twins comprised “meaningful reasons for [her] intent to rear the children in Colorado,” in

accordance with Dr. Ravitz’s testimony. The second factor of a good faith objection to

relocation favored John, as the court believed he “genuinely fears his relationship will be

impacted.” The court found the third factor slightly favored Amber; she had “the deepest

history and quality relationship with the children and has been their primary caregiver,

teacher and nurturer,” but John has developed a relationship with them as well, especially

since the two-week on/off court order of which he has taken full advantage. Factors four and

five both favored Amber; the court noted schools in either area would be appropriate for the

children, but it heard more regarding a specific Colorado school’s curriculum with a calendar

more amenable to the parenting time it would be allotting than the general school testimony

regarding La Grange schools, and similarly, while both parties provided extended families

19 No. 1-22-1558

for the twins, Amber’s in Colorado (particularly her parents) was and has been more

involved with the children. The court found the sixth factor, the anticipated impact of

relocation on the twins, to be neutral. In discussing this factor, the court repeated Dr.

Ravitz’s finding that the twins “have lived in Colorado for all of their conscious lives.” It

commented that the children “only know their multi-state existence with their mother and

their father” and it did not “see that changing.” It acknowledged that awarding Amber

primary custody would necessarily impact the time the twins spent with their father and its

frequency, but noted that this did not equate to a negative impact on their relationship.

Factor seven regarding the ability to fashion a reasonable allocation of parenting time and

decision-making in light of relocation slightly favored Amber, as the court had already

evaluated these in Amber’s favor within the other portions of its decision. The court further

found that while factor eight regarding the children’s wishes did not apply, factor nine also

slightly favored Amber, as while both parties have been able to afford and cooperate

regarding the inherent travel required here, Amber still had the best primary childcare plan

given her parents’ assistance in this. The court found factor ten to be neutral or slightly favor

John; it acknowledged that regardless of where the twins lived there would be a disruption to

their relationship with the other parent, but one which the parties have already attempted to

alleviate “with a robust schedule of daily Skype contact ***, something that the children

have known throughout their conscious lives as normative.” Finally, in addressing factor

eleven’s catch-all provision, the court declared that Amber’s “role as the consistent, lengthy,

primary caretaker is vital to this Court’s determination,” and found that, “given the evidence

adduced at trial,” primary residency with John in Illinois would be “traumatic” for the twins.

20 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 26 Lastly in its decision, the court wished to clarify that under the relocation statute, the

terms “primary residence” and “home state” have “a substantive legal distinction” and “refer

to different concepts and imply different or distinct analyses,” a point Amber argued during

the proceedings but John disputed. The court reiterated that, accordingly, while the prior

March 2019 order correctly found Illinois to be the twins’ home state for jurisdictional

purposes, that did not compel it to now conclude that Illinois was also their primary

residence. Rather, the court was required to conduct “a review of the relocation factors”

pursuant to statute, which it did and which “compels the conclusion that residency in

Colorado with [Amber] is proper.”

¶ 27 ANALYSIS

¶ 28 On appeal, John first contends that the trial court erred in failing to regard the instant

cause as a relocation matter pursuant to section 609.2 of the IMDMA and that, via various

missteps in interpreting the statute, impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to him. He

then contends that, even were this not the case, the court erred in weighing the evidence at

trial and granting Amber’s petition to relocate the children to Colorado. We disagree.

¶ 29 As a threshold matter, the parties dispute the applicable standard of review. John argues

that the trial court “effectively failed to apply the standards set forth in Section 609.2” and

did not handle this as a true relocation case because it only “facially” mentioned the statutory

factors and “briefly summarized” them without considering them. He states that in light of

this, the court did not apply the statute and instead reduced this to a best interests analysis,

thereby committing an error of law which requires de novo review. Later in his brief,

however, and perhaps as an alternative argument, John seemingly admits the court did

21 No. 1-22-1558

consider the statutory relocation factors, but argues that its ultimate decision regarding them

was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Amber, meanwhile, avers that a trial court’s

decision regarding relocation is to be reviewed pursuant to a manifest weight of the evidence

standard.

¶ 30 John’s advocacy for de novo review is a difficult one to understand, especially in light of

the trial court’s lengthy decision in this matter. We are baffled by his assertion that the court

only “facially” mentioned the statutory factors or simply summarized them without applying

or considering them. The record belies such an assertion. Unmistakably, and undeniably, the

trial court examined every applicable statutory factor and applied the facts presented to each

of them, with explicitly detailed care, both in its oral colloquy and then again in its written

decision. We have, at length herein, noted as much, and John admits that the court examined

the factors later in his brief on appeal (albeit to his disapproval).

¶ 31 We also do not quite understand John’s repeated claim that the trial court, somehow

impermissibly or incorrectly, reduced this relocation matter to a best interests analysis,

thereby shifting the burden to him and, again, requiring de novo review. Contrary to his

intimations that the court “abandoned any relocation analysis and made its[] finding strictly a

best interest analysis,” we note that, even were this true, which the record demonstrably

disproves, the consideration of a child’s best interests is part and parcel of section 609.2

governing relocation. Indeed, the very subsection that lists the relocation factors at issue

introduces those factors by first stating that, when determining the propriety of a relocation

request, “[t]he court shall modify the parenting plan or allocation judgment in accordance

with the child’s best interests.” 750 ILCS 5/609.2(g) (West 2020) (emphasis added); see In

22 No. 1-22-1558

re Marriage of Kimberly R. v. George S., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 74. In addition, our

supreme court has spoken directly to this point and declared that “[i]n adjudicating a

relocation petition filed under section 609.2(g) of the [IMDMA (citation omitted)], the

paramount consideration is the best interests of the children.” In re Marriage of Fatkin, 2019

IL 123602, ¶ 32. We will discuss this more below, but at this juncture, we certainly do not

see how the trial court’s consideration of the twins’ best interests when deciding Amber’s

relocation petition, which is authorized, and even demanded, by the relocation statute at

issue, would be considered an abrogation or misapplication of the law requiring de novo

review on appeal.

¶ 32 Our point here is this: we are not persuaded by John’s assertion that we are to apply de

novo review to the instant matter, and we find no reason to depart from our well-established

case law holding the exact opposite to be true.

¶ 33 That is, precisely because the adjudication of a relocation petition inherently requires a

best interests determination, reviewing courts should not reverse a lower court’s decision

with respect to such petitions “ ‘ “unless it is clearly against the manifest weight of the

evidence and it appears that a manifest injustice has occurred.” ’ ” Kimberly R., 2021 IL App

(1st) 201405, ¶ 75 (quoting Fatkin, 2019 IL 123602, ¶ 32 (quoting In re Marriage of Eckert,

119 Ill. 2d 316, 328 (1988))) (this is the standard applicable to determinations involving a

child’s best interests and relocation petitions, as the latter necessarily involves the former).

“ ‘The trial court’s decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the

evidence “clearly” calls for a conclusion opposite to that reached by the trial court or only if

the factual findings on which the decision depends are clearly, plainly, and indisputably

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erroneous.’ ” Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 75 (quoting In re Parentage of P.D.,

2017 IL App (2d) 170355, ¶ 18). It is this standard, with its marked deference, that is

appropriate for the review of relocation matters “because it recognizes that the trial court, as

the trier of fact, had a superior opportunity ‘ “to observe both parents and the child[ren] and,

thus, is able to assess and evaluate their temperaments, personalities, and capabilities.” ’ ”

Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 75 (quoting Fatkin, 2019 IL 123602, ¶ 32 (quoting

Gallagher v. Gallagher, 60 Ill. App. 3d 26, 31 (1978))). As such, and significantly, “ ‘[t]he

presumption in favor of the result reached by the trial court is always strong and compelling

in this type of case.’ ” Fatkin, 2019 IL 123602, ¶ 32 (quoting Gallagher, 60 Ill. App. 3d at

31-32); accord Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 75 (such considerations dominate

the review of relocation matters).

¶ 34 I. Case Treatment and Burden of Proof

¶ 35 With this standard of review in mind, we turn to John’s initial contention on appeal,

which overarchingly asserts that the trial court’s mistreatment of the cause impermissibly

shifted the burden of proof to him as the nonpetitioning party to prove that the twins should

remain in Illinois. First, he takes issue with the court’s description of the cause as a “non-

traditional” relocation matter and its finding that the children had resided in Colorado “all of

their conscious lives,” concepts he insists do not exist as relocation considerations under

section 609.2. He concludes that the court’s use of these terms “clearly shows that [it] did

not treat this as a relocation case nor apply the applicable statute,” and that it abandoned any

relocation analysis it was called upon to provide. Second, John takes issue with the court’s

finding that the twins’ primary residence was always with Amber, wherever she was, rather

24 No. 1-22-1558

than Illinois. He insists that this conclusion shows the court completely disregarded both the

fact that Amber’s filing of the petition to relocate was a legal admission that the twins’

“primary residence was and continued to be Illinois,” and the prior March 2019 order finding

the twins’ home state to be Illinois, a holding from which, he claims, it “[l]ogically” “should

follow” that their primary residence is also Illinois. Based on the record before us, we find

that John mischaracterizes the court’s decision and there is no merit to his assertions.

¶ 36 We begin by noting John is correct that the burden in the cause was, and always

remained, with Amber. Pursuant to the relocation statute, the burden rests with the parent

desiring to relocate to prove that relocation is in the best interests of the children, as

measured by the factors set forth in section 609.2(g). See Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st)

201405, ¶ 78 (citing In re Marriage of Levites, 2021 IL App (2d) 200552, ¶ 57).

Accordingly, then, Amber, as the petitioner, had the burden of production, namely, to

produce evidence on the twins’ best interests, as well as the burden of persuasion, namely, to

convince the court that it was in those best interests to relocate them to Colorado according to

the statutory factors. See Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 78 (citing Levites, 2021

IL App (2d) 200552, ¶ 61); see also P.D., 2017 IL App (2d) 170355, ¶ 15 (“The parent

seeking removal has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that removal

would be in the child’s best interest”); accord Eckert, 119 Ill 2d at 325.

¶ 37 This, however, is where our agreement with John ends, as we do not find, and John fails

to adequately demonstrate, that the trial court impermissibly shifted the burden to him in its

treatment of this cause.

25 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 38 First, contrary to John’s insistence, we find no issue with the court’s comments that this

was a “non-traditional” relocation case. Having reviewed the facts presented, we could

easily agree with the court in this respect. As it noted, this was not the typical case where

two parents live in one state and, upon the end of their union, one of them seeks to relocate to

a new state with the children. Rather, the trial court here found that the parties consistently

maintained a multistate relationship--long before their marriage, throughout its entirety, and

after the birth of the twins. This made the case unusual and unique from the start. The

record shows that when the parties met in 2016, John was living in Illinois and Amber was

living in Texas; she was living there in temporary housing due to her employment and she

was simultaneously maintaining her Colorado property, which she had already owned for

some ten years. In reviewing the parties’ relationship history, the court commented that it

was not sure it got “the full story” on Amber’s intentions about living in Illinois; some facts

indicated she had a relationship to Illinois, such as her signing the apartment lease and

extending it, but it could not be denied that other facts indicated the opposite, such as her

never holding an Illinois driver’s license, never filing an Illinois tax return, never voting in

Illinois, and essentially splitting her time between the two states. Moreover, the court found

that just as unclear as Amber’s intentions were, so too were John’s about living in Colorado;

he worked and owned property in Illinois, but he filed tax returns in Colorado, baptized his

children there, drove and stored his boat at Amber’s Colorado home where he also performed

significant landscaping, applied for the twins’ passports listing Colorado as their permanent

residence, and applied for, tested for, and received a license in Colorado to practice law.

26 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 39 Additionally, once the twins were born, it was not as if the parties settled down in either

state. To the contrary, as the trial court found, the twins themselves lived a multistate

existence as much as Amber and John did. The moment they were medically cleared from

the hospital NICU, they took their first trip to Colorado. Trips and time spent in Colorado

thereafter, as detailed by the trial court, are, suffice to say, too numerous and voluminous to

repeat here. They essentially split their time in both states beginning at four months old. The

twins were even enrolled and attended two separate preschools, one in Colorado and one in

Illinois, at the same time. In line with the trial court’s evaluation, we are hard-pressed to

conclude that the parties’ situation was anything but non-traditional within the context of

relocation. Indeed, this was not a case which involve a “move,” as traditionally defined, of

the twins from Illinois to Colorado. This was because a multistate relationship between

Illinois and Colorado was the parties,’ and the twins,’ reality. We do not believe this can

plausibly be denied and, contrary to John’s claim, there is certainly more than enough

evidence in the record to support the court’s conclusion.

¶ 40 More importantly, we fail to see how the court’s comment that this was a non-traditional

relocation case somehow evidences a dereliction of its duty to consider the statutory factors

of 609.2 or an improper shift of the burden of proof from Amber to John. Again, as proven

by its oral and written decisions, both more detailed and thorough than this Court is used to

seeing, the trial court most certainly did no such thing. In fact, the trial court specifically

noted that precisely because this was “not strictly speaking a relocation case,” but rather, “an

unusual hybrid case” due to “the unique facts specific to the parties’ residences and their

children’s lives,” its review and ultimate decision “warrant[ed] an examination of all

27 No. 1-22-1558

potentially applicable statutory provisions of the IMDMA.” The record then shows the court

clearly conducted such an examination, particularly the factors in section 609.2(g), when

discussing relocation. Moreover, we note that this trial court was not the only to comment on

the non-traditionality of this matter. GAL Kunizar’s own comments reflected the same when

she testified that this cause was “more complex than simple relocation,” since “the parties

resided in two different states, and the children traveled from state to state;” experts Drs.

Ravitz and Kraus expressed similar sentiments. Additionally, when the parties first appeared

for the March 2019 jurisdictional analysis, the trial court which was called upon to determine

the twins’ home state likewise declared that this matter was “much more involved” than a

typical relocation case, as it was “truly one of the parties sharing a multi-state relationship.”

Because of this, that court, just as the instant trial court, stated it needed to turn to an

examination of all the unusual facts pertaining to the lives of the children before rendering its

decision. What proves quite interesting to us in this respect is that John takes no issue on

appeal with that prior court’s commentary recognizing the non-traditionality of this case

when he describes its holding—a holding that found the twins’ home state to be Illinois, and

a holding which, undoubtedly, John favored. It was only when the instant trial court issued

its decision granting Amber’s relocation petition, a decision unfavorable to him, that he

asserts error regarding essentially the same comment—one the record otherwise supports and

one that, without more, we cannot conclude had the consequence of inappropriately shifting

the burden from Amber to him, as he claims.

¶ 41 We find the same to be true of the other phrase the trial court used in its oral and written

decisions that John takes issue with, that is, that the twins had lived in Colorado “all of their

28 No. 1-22-1558

conscious lives.” John asserts that not only was it improper for the court to deviate from the

statute by considering such a “vague personal and not scientific concept,” but also there was

“no testimony” regarding this and the court necessarily “created its own statutory exception.”

However, John mischaracterizes the record and, again, we do not find the court’s comment to

have improperly shifted the burden here. First, there was, indeed, testimony and evidence

about the concept of the twins’ “conscious lives.” This came directly from Dr. Ravitz, the

expert appointed specifically by the trial court to assist in its evaluation of the relocation

petition. Dr. Ravitz visited and interviewed the parties, prepared a written report, and

subsequently testified, as directed by the court, which found him to be “very credible.” Dr.

Ravitz was frank in his finding that there was no real difference between the twins growing

up in Illinois versus Colorado when it came to their general educational, social, and

extracurricular opportunities. He also noted that both parties were competent and adequate

parents who were not being manipulative, but rather, just differed as to where they wanted to

reside. As such, a decision had to be made about where the twins should live. He explained

that, with everything else about the same, he looked at the cause from a “forensic mental

health standpoint,” evaluating the twins’ lives in Chicago, where they were more physically

present from their births until about 18 months, as distinguished from their lives in Colorado,

where they were more physically present from May 2018 (the time of divorce) until June

2020 (when he wrote his report). From this, Dr. Ravitz concluded that the twins’ “primary

home for all their conscious lives” was Colorado, lives that were, up to this point, certainly

short, but at four-years-old and having built a community of relationships and activities, had

become markedly different than when they were infants in Chicago.

29 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 42 Again, we fail to see how Dr. Ravitz’s comment about “conscious lives,” and the trial

court’s reference to it, shows the court did not treat this as a relocation case, failed to apply

the applicable statute, or abandoned any relocation analysis, as John maintains. Section

604.10(b) of the IMDMA states that a trial court “may seek the advice of any professional,

whether or not regularly employed by the court, to assist the court in determining the child’s

best interests,” and his report is to contain, in part, “any recommendations of the professional

concerning * * * the child’s relocation” and “an explanation * * * regarding the resulting

recommendations.” 750 ILCS 5/604.10(b) (West 2018). Following the statute, the court

employed Dr. Ravitz in this role, and Dr. Ravitz complied, describing the considerations he

used when forming his opinion. The court, having found Dr. Ravitz “very credible” when

testifying as to his report, had every right to rely on his testimony. See Kimberly R., 2021 IL

App (1st) 201405, ¶ 75 (witness credibility determinations in relocation petition hearings lie

solely within province of trial court).

¶ 43 Also, and again pursuant to statute, section 609.2(g)(11) states that, in addition to the

listed statutory factors to be used when considering the propriety of relocation, the trial court

may also consider “any other relevant factor bearing on the child’s best interests.” 750 ILCS

5/609.2(g)(11) (West 2018). The concept of “conscious lives,” as explained by Dr. Ravitz,

was a factor both applicable to the twins here and relevant to his opinion. While “conscious

lives” is not a statutory term, that the court considered the concept, as testified to by its own

expert, which it was allowed to do in accordance with the statute, does not amount to error.

Moreover, the court mentioned this concept only briefly. In its oral decision, it stated that it

“like[d]” the concept of “conscious lives” as it meant “since you’ve had memory, since

30 No. 1-22-1558

you’re fully aware of what’s happening.” The twins’ memories and awareness of their

surroundings certainly classify as a relevant factor bearing on their best interests. In its

written decision, the court referred to their “conscious lives” in relation only to the statutory

factor of anticipated impact of relocation on the twins, finding that while it would necessarily

impact the frequency of time they spent with John, that did not equate to a negative impact

on their relationship. It was not as if the trial court relied solely on the concept of “conscious

lives” in rendering its decision. As the ultimate benchmark was, and always remained, the

twins’ best interests, and as the relocation statute allows the trial court to consider “any other

relevant factor bearing” thereon, we find no impropriety in the court’s repetition of a

consideration used by its appointed expert witness, whom, again, it found to be very credible.

¶ 44 John’s final claim in relation to his assertion that the trial court’s mistreatment of this

cause resulted in inappropriate burden-shifting lies in his assertion that the court

inappropriately determined the twins’ primary residence to have always been with Amber,

wherever she was. John states this finding demonstrates the court disregarded the inherent

admission in Amber’s petition that their primary residence was Illinois and the prior trial

court’s March 2019 order finding the twins’ home state to be Illinois. Again, we find no

merit to John’s claim.

¶ 45 Simply put, the trial court’s finding that the twins’ primary residence has always been

with Amber, wherever she was, was proper and supported by the evidence. We understand

John’s assertion that by the mere filing of the relocation petition, Amber technically made a

legal admission that the twins’ primary residence was Illinois. This is, after all, the essence

of such a petition—asking for the relocation of children from their primary residence—and it

31 No. 1-22-1558

inherently requires the petitioner to make an admission. However, in this cause, this is a

matter of form over substance that has no real applicability to the unique circumstances here.

We have already discussed at length that this was not a traditional relocation case. No expert

who testified, and no court involved in this matter, ever viewed it as such. So, the fact that

Amber’s petition technically made a legal admission that the twins’ primary residence was

Illinois is, in our view, of no real consequence. Instead, what is more critical to us is the

evidence presented as to the statutory relocation factors and the children’s best interests, and

whether it supports the trial court’s ultimate decision to grant relocation. In that respect, as

the record shows, all three expert witnesses—court-appointed expert Dr. Ravitz, GAL

Kuzinar, and John’s own retained expert Dr. Kraus—testified that not only did they each,

separately, determine that Amber was the twins’ primary caregiver, but also that John

admitted, to each of them separately, this to be true. The court took into account that this

somewhat changed later when the two-week on/off visitation schedule was instituted during

the divorce proceedings, but it could not deny that the twins “were with their mother

primarily, most of the time” since they were born. In contrast to John’s assertion, we do not

believe Amber’s mere filing of her petition to relocate the twins legally bound the court to

issue a holding that Illinois was the twins’ primary residence without any consideration of the

evidence before it, evidence that in this unique case clearly contradicts such a finding.

¶ 46 Finally, we disagree with John that the trial court’s finding that the twins’ primary

residence was always with Amber somehow ignored or violated the prior trial court’s order

of March 2019 that declared the twins’ home state to be Illinois. John’s insistence that a

primary residency finding of Illinois must, or logically should, follow from a home state

32 No. 1-22-1558

determination of Illinois is legally incorrect. Rather, John conflates the two concepts, which

are clearly not the same. As the record demonstrates, since John was the first to file for

divorce (which he did in Illinois), and since the twins were living with Amber in Colorado at

the time, the trial court in Illinois needed to determine if it had jurisdiction over the twins

pursuant to the UCCJEA. What made it difficult for that court was that the UCCJEA defines

a child’s home state as the state in which he has lived “for at least six consecutive months

immediately before the commencement of the child-custody proceeding.” 750 ILCS

36/102(7) (West 2018). Noting “[t]he reality is that the children did not live in either Illinois

or Colorado continuously for [a] six[-]month period immediately prior to” the institution of

the divorce proceedings, that court looked to other factors, such as the twins’ connection to

Illinois and the fact that John filed first, in order to find their home state to be Illinois.

¶ 47 However, this determination was under the UCCJEA and for jurisdictional purposes only.

The UCCJEA home state analysis “ ‘was promulgated to end custody jurisdictional disputes

between states,’ ” and is undertaken to determine what court has subject matter jurisdiction

over a child in dissolution of marriage proceedings when more than one state is involved.

Fleckles v. Diamond, 2015 IL App (2d) 141229, ¶ 32 (quoting In re Joseph V.D., 373 Ill.

App. 3d 559, 561 (2007)). Once a determination regarding subject matter jurisdiction is

made under the UCCJEA, that statute gives that court continuing jurisdiction, which is

“ ‘simply a procedural limit on when the court may hear initial custody matters.’ ” In re

Marriage of Milne, 2018 IL App (2d) 180091, ¶ 27 (quoting McCormick v. Robertson, 2015

IL 118230, ¶ 27). Considerations regarding home state determinations include topics like the

child’s “habitual residence” (as defined by the UCCJEA), the timing of the commencement

33 No. 1-22-1558

of the action, and the child’s connection to and temporary absence from a certain jurisdiction.

See Milne, 2018 IL App (2d) 180091, ¶¶ 27-30.

¶ 48 Primary residency under the IMDMA, meanwhile, is an entirely different legal concept

under an entirely different statute. When the instant trial court made its ruling as to the

twins’ primary residence being Colorado three years later in June 2022, it was no longer

dealing with jurisdiction, which, again, had long been determined by the prior court in March

2019. Rather, it was dealing with relocation concerns and, of course, a best interests

analysis, under the IMDMA. At issue now was the substance of the parties’ dispute, not the

state in which the dispute was to be decided. That Illinois was determined to be the twins’

home state for jurisdictional purposes in dealing with the dissolution petition but Colorado

was determined to be their primary residence after a best interests determination related to

the statutory relocation factors was not inappropriate because the former is not dispositive of

the latter. They are, instead, legal concepts with substantively different distinctions.

¶ 49 Moreover, and once again contrary to John’s insistence, the record shows that the instant

trial court in no way ignored the prior court’s March 2019 order. Instead, it mentioned it

several times in its decision and, as we have here, noted the difference between that court’s

findings within the context of a procedural home state jurisdictional analysis at the start of

this litigation and the substantive primary residence review in the context of relocation and

best interests at the end of this litigation. It further noted that section 609.2(h) of the

relocation statute refers to both “home state” and “primary residence” and uses them

differently, further indicating that they are different legal concepts. From this, the instant

trial court concluded that while the prior order was correct in asserting Illinois to be the

34 No. 1-22-1558

twins’ home state jurisdiction, it “did not compel a conclusion that the children’s primary

residence was in Illinois.” John provides us with no legal precedent, and we find none, to

mandate that a determination of primary residence must “follow” from a determination of

home state. Our statutory scheme makes clear that these are not one in the same.

¶ 50 Ultimately, and regardless of all this, the trial court’s comment that the twins’ primary

residence was always with Amber, wherever she was, along with the comments we have

analyzed here that John takes issue with, are just that: comments. The crux of the trial

court’s decision was its examination of the relocation factors of section 609.2(g) of the

IMDMA. That is where our focus now turns in order to determine whether the court’s grant

of Amber’s petition to relocate the twins based on those factors was against the manifest

weight of the evidence.

¶ 51 II. Statutory Relocation Factors

¶ 52 John’s final contention on review is that the trial court “misapplied” the section 609.2(g)

relocation factors and thereby erroneously granted Amber’s petition to relocate the twins to

Colorado. First, he insists that the court refused to apply the notice requirements of section

609.2(d) and instead simply declared that Amber “relocated with good cause.” He then

claims the court erred in weighing certain factors it found to be in Amber’s favor. Based on

the record, we do not find that the trial court’s grant of Amber’s relocation petition was

against the manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 53 Briefly, with respect to notice, John again mischaracterizes the record. As the trial court

noted, section 609.2(d) of the relocation statute has a written notice requirement, stating that

the relocating parent “must provide at least 60 days’ written notice before the relocation

35 No. 1-22-1558

unless such notice is impracticable,” and this notice must contain the intended date of the

parent’s relocation, the address of the intended new residence if known, and the length of

time relocation will last if it is not for an indefinite or permanent period. 750 ILCS

5/609.2(d) (West 2018). Section 609.2(d) further states that a court “may consider a parent’s

failure to comply with the notice requirements of this Section without good cause * * * as a

factor in determining whether the parent’s relocation is in good faith.” 750 ILCS 5/609.2(d)

(West 2018).

¶ 54 The trial court here did not refuse to consider the notice requirement and simply declare

Amber had relocated with good cause, as John insists. Rather, it spent quite a bit of time,

particularly in its oral decision, discussing its applicability to this case and how it weighed

Amber’s technical violation of it in relation to the other factors involved. The court initially

explained it did not believe the requirement applied here because it did not “fit[] the history

of this case” due to this family’s multistate relationship and their residency. This is more

than understandable and supported by the record. In addition to the unique relationship, John

knew Amber was taking the twins to stay in Colorado the day they left in May 2018, he knew

where exactly they would be staying, and there was no particular day planned for their return;

he testified that he planned to call them whenever the Willard Street construction was

complete. As the trial court noted, the evidence suggested that Amber herself may not have

even known when she left for Colorado that day in May 2018 that she and the twins would

relocate there and not return. While John’s expert Dr. Kraus believed there was an

appearance of deception on Amber’s part, Dr. Ravitz and GAL Kunizar explicitly disagreed.

36 No. 1-22-1558

Accordingly, there was no error in the court’s reasoned conclusion that the statutory notice

requirement did not apply.

¶ 55 Moreover, the court noted that, even if it were to conclude that it applied, it may, per the

latter portion of the notice section, consider Amber’s failure to comply as a factor in

determining whether her relocation was in good faith. Citing Amber’s maintenance of her

Colorado home for over a decade, her support system there, and the home environment for

the twins in that location, it concluded that it “could not find her move to be without good

cause or in bad faith.” Again, we find no error in the court’s determination. According to

the statute, the only consequence for failing to comply with the notice requirement for

relocation is that the trial court “may consider” that failure as a factor in determining whether

the parent’s relocation “is in good faith.” 750 ILCS 5/609.2(d) (West 2018). It is not,

contrary to any intimation from John, an automatic denial of a relocation petition or a

preclusion from obtaining relief. The record shows the trial court followed section 609.2(d).

It acknowledged Amber’s failure to comply, considered it as a factor, and found that it did

not show a lack of good faith. There is nothing more to say on this point.

¶ 56 We have finally reached the statutory relocation factors of section 609.2(g), of which

there are 11. On appeal, however, John asserts error with respect to only five of them:

factors (1), (3), (4), (5), and (7).

¶ 57 Our supreme court has made clear that relocation determinations “cannot be reduced to a

simple bright-line test.” Fatkin, 2019 IL 123602, ¶ 32. Rather, because the children’s best

interests are involved, they “ ‘must be made on a case-by-case basis, depending, to a great

extent, upon the circumstances of each case.’ ” Fatkin, 2019 IL 123602, ¶ 32 (quoting

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Eckert, 119 Ill. 2d at 326); accord Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 74. Thus, as the

unique facts of each relocation case dominate it, comparisons to other relocation cases are of

little value. See Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 74 (citing Levites, 2021 IL App

(2d) 200552, ¶ 71). Ultimately, the determination of a relocation petition “ ‘cannot be

reduced to a simple tally of which party “won” a majority of the enumerated factors; instead,

because some factors in a particular case may weigh more heavily than others, the trial court

must consider all factors and evidence touching on the issue and must arrive at a reasonable

result.’ ” Kimberly R., 2021 IL App (1st) 201405, ¶ 7 (quoting Levites, 2021 IL App (2d)

200552, ¶ 71).

¶ 58 With respect to factor (1), circumstances and reasons for relocation, the court found that

this favored Amber because, in addition to its belief she had not relocated in bad faith, the

support system, improved environment, and Amber’s psychological wellbeing supported that

conclusion. The trial court observed that, based on the testimony, particularly that of GAL

Kunizar and Dr. Ravitz, the evidenced demonstrated the twins enjoyed a better support

system and a healthier environment with their grandparents and pets in Colorado, and

Amber’s wellbeing, which trickled down to them, was also improved in Colorado. We

recognize John’s view that the court’s determination can be seen by some to “encourage” a

parent to relocate with the children without asking permission and then seek forgiveness after

the fact, while rewarding her with custody. However, as the record demonstrates, that is

hardly what the trial court did here in evaluating this factor. It did not simply state that

because Amber was in Colorado with the twins, the twins should relocate there. We have

stressed this throughout our decision: the trial court conducted a thorough analysis of the

38 No. 1-22-1558

cause before it, in accordance with the applicable statute. Again, that cannot be denied and,

based on the record, we cannot say that the evidence presented regarding the reason for

relocation does not support the court’s finding as to this factor.

¶ 59 John next challenges factor (3), the history and quality of each parent’s relationship with

the children and, specifically, whether a parent has substantially failed or refused to exercise

parental responsibilities allocated to him under the parenting plan or allocation judgment.

John claims the trial court weighed this factor based only on Amber’s unilateral decision to

remove the twins from Illinois and did not consider that he sought their return long before the

court’s order. That is not the case. The court found this factor only slightly favored Amber.

It praised John repeatedly for exercising his parenting time and for developing a relationship

with the twins once the two-week on/off schedule was instituted. It also knew the procedural

posture of the case from its inception, including all the motions John had filed. However, it

found that Amber had the deeper history and quality relationship with the twins, as she had

been their primary caregiver since birth. Again, the evidence supported this conclusion. All

three expert witnesses, even John’s own, testified that this was the case and that John himself

admitted as much to each of them. John also testified before the trial court that Amber had

cared for the twins “pretty much exclusively.” As the court accurately relied on the

evidence, we cannot say its conclusion was erroneous.

¶ 60 With respect to factor (4), educational opportunities, John claims the court erred in

finding this weighed in Amber’s favor because she presented an “absence of meaningful

testimony regarding the educational opportunities which would be presented should

relocation be granted.” He cites the fact that GAL Kunizar and Dr. Ravitz did not personally

39 No. 1-22-1558

investigate the schools in either La Grange or Colorado, that Amber’s witness (Colorado

school director Jolly) had never met the twins, and that his witness (Augustine) distinctly

testified as to her “direct firsthand accounts, interactions, and opportunities actually afforded

to [her] children who attended schools in La Grange.” The record, however, directly

counters John and demonstrates not only that Amber did present “meaningful testimony” on

this subject, but also that the court spent much time considering this factor, perhaps more

than any other. First, even though GAL Kunizar and Dr. Ravitz did not investigate schools

in either area per se, the twins were not even school-age at the time of their reports. With

respect to educational opportunities, however, they both testified, as did John’s own expert

Dr. Kraus, that schools in both areas were appropriate; Dr. Ravitz stated there was no

difference between them, Dr. Kraus considered any differences to be “a wash,” and GAL

Kunizar stated the same, with the caveat being that Amber was providing more educational

opportunities at the time because she had transformed her home in Colorado into a

Montessori-teaching setting, while John, in La Grange, had not done anything comparable.

Additionally, the trial court recognized that schools in both areas were highly ranked and had

received awards. While Augustine testified, credibly as per the court, as to her experiences

with La Grange, we would note that, as John’s sister and a village board trustee, she is

considerably partial; also, we cannot say her children’s experiences are entirely relevant, as

the twins are younger than her children and have particular health concerns.

¶ 61 As the court discussed at length, it simply “heard more testimony regarding the Colorado

school,” particularly through the testimony of school director Jolly, as presented by Amber.

Though he might not have yet met the twins in person at that time is of little consequence;

40 No. 1-22-1558

again, they were not of age to even attend the school at that time. He was able, however, to

directly testify as to the particular educational opportunities they would receive at his school,

The Classical Academy, in which Amber would be seeking to enroll them when they were of

age. He detailed its curriculum, philosophy, methodology, and other factors like class size

and extracurriculars. Interestingly, there was no comparable evidence regarding any specific

La Grange school. Additionally, the court took much time in discussing the different school

district schedules, finding the Colorado school’s to be more facilitative of the plan the court

had fashioned with respect to the allocation of parenting time. Based on all this, the trial

court’s assessment of this factor was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 62 John next claims that the court erred in finding that factor (5), the presence or absence of

extended family at the existing location and the proposed location, favored Amber because

she failed in her burden of proof as to this consideration. John insists this is because Amber

did not present testimony from members of her extended family living near her in Colorado

and neither GAL Kunizar nor Dr. Ravitz investigated these relationships, while the court

otherwise heard much live evidence regarding John’s family’s relationship with the twins,

such as his sister’s testimony. To the contrary, the trial court heard extensive testimony

about the twins’ maternal relatives and their strong connection to them, specifically, Amber’s

parents, siblings, and their children. For example, when Amber could not be present to care

for the twins, they stayed with her parents in Colorado. This occurred not only after the

divorce proceedings were instituted, but also during the marriage when the parties were a

couple; instead of John caring for them, Amber would accompany the twins to Colorado and

leave them with her parents before traveling to work events. There was also much testimony

41 No. 1-22-1558

of, as the trial court noted, the twins’ “extremely close relationship” with their maternal

grandparents, the activities they enjoyed together, their frequency, and the twins’ connection

to their pets in Colorado, whereas John’s parents were not with the children as often due to

their ages and mobility issues. Based on this record, we cannot find that the trial court’s

determination was unsupported simply because Amber did not fly her family in to testify.

Nor was the court’s determination erroneous because GAL Kunizar and Dr. Ravitz did not

believe they needed to interview either family. They specifically noted that both parties were

competent, responsible parents with familiar support systems and, thus, there was no need to

do so, in their professional opinions. Again, the trial court found Amber, GAL Kunizar and

Dr. Ravitz to be credible witnesses. Without more, we cannot say its decision, based on their

testimony and the evidence presented, was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 63 Finally, John argues that, in evaluating factor (7) of whether the court will be able to

fashion a reasonable allocation of parental responsibilities between the parents if relocation

occurs, it did not compare the schedule it put forth to the current two-week on/off schedule in

place pending litigation, which would result in John losing some 20% of his current

parenting time. John’s challenge is a misfire, for several reasons. First, the trial court was

keenly aware of the difference in the current schedule and the one which would result if

relocation were granted. It commented on this many times in its decision. It also noted the

reality of the situation, which we, too, cannot deny. That is, when the two-week on/off

schedule was implemented, the children were not school-aged; when they were, they were

attending preschool, which afforded this family the opportunity to enroll them in two

different preschools in two different states at the same time, where they could attend each for

42 No. 1-22-1558

two-week periods without affecting their academic careers. Years later, at the time of the

instant decision, the twins were five-and-a-half years old: kindergarteners. And, inherently,

as time has continued to progress, so have they: this December, they will be turning seven,

full-fledged first graders. Their academic careers are now underway and it is no longer a

viable option to split their schooling between two states on a biweekly basis; this will most

certainly become more and more of a reality as time moves on. It is a concept that, simply, is

no longer tenable.

¶ 64 Moreover, and even more significant, even presupposing, as John would have us, that

Amber would return to Illinois should the grant of her relocation petition be reversed, none of

the experts, not even John’s own, Dr. Kraus, ever entertained the idea that John should have

equal parenting time with the twins upon the determination of this matter. GAL Kunizar

opined that John should not be given primary residency of the twins; she explicitly stated she

would not support that idea nor an equal split in custody. Dr. Ravitz stated they should live

in Colorado and have visits with John. And, Dr. Kraus specifically admitted that John should

not receive equal parenting time even if Amber were to live with the twins in Illinois. In fact,

Dr. Kraus went further to state John should have only alternating weekends and one weekday

overnight each week with the twins, were they to live here. Accordingly, all three of the

expert witnesses agreed John should receive something less than a 50/50 split of time he

sought, regardless of where the twins were living. The two-week on/off schedule John refers

to was, always and clearly, a temporary one only in place during this litigation. The trial

court clearly considered it, and found it was no longer feasible or in the twins’ best interests

as they grow up. It cannot be denied that relocation will necessarily affect the amount of

43 No. 1-22-1558

time a child will spend with his parent. The goal of this factor, however, is for the trial court

to be able to establish a reasonable and realistic schedule, not a perfect one. See, e.g., In re

Marriage of Eaton, 269 Ill App. 3d 507, 515 (1995). Based on the record, the trial court here

did just that, and we find no error in its determination of this factor.

¶ 65 We find, contrary to any assertion, that the trial court here in no way simply reduced its

section 609.2(g) factor analysis to a tally of which party “won” the most factors. Rather, we

conclude, instead, that it clearly considered all the factors, as well as the evidence touching

on each of them, and weighed all this properly. Its ultimate determination was more than

adequately supported by the record, which it viewed first-hand, along with its observations of

the parties’ and their witnesses’ testimony. As such, we cannot, and under these

circumstances of a total absence of any indication of manifest error, will not, disturb its

reasoned decision.

¶ 66 CONCLUSION

¶ 67 The trial court here was faced with a contested relocation petition arising from an

incredibly unique, nontraditional, multistate living arrangement, one that existed since the

birth of these children (and most certainly before). It conducted a detailed and expansive

hearing at which both parties were given a full and fair opportunity to present evidence and

testimony. At its conclusion, it entered an equally detailed and expansive 54-page oral and

16-page (mostly single-spaced) written decision describing its factual findings and its

application of these to each of the relevant statutory factors. Only after taking everything

presented before it into consideration did the court ultimately conclude that these “compel[]

the conclusion that residency in Colorado with [Amber] is proper” for the twins.

44 No. 1-22-1558

¶ 68 It is obvious to anyone even cursorily glancing at the record in this matter that the

parties—Amber and John equally—are wonderful parents who deeply love their children.

Would that every child this Court encounters be in that same situation. And yet, this is what

makes this cause all the more difficult. The trial court recognized it, and we do, as well. The

parties, as is their right, have chosen not to live near each other upon their separation.

However, their children, as is their right, are to reside in the location that is proven to be in

their best interests in light of the applicable statutory factors. The trial court found that this

comprised their relocation from Illinois to Colorado to live with Amber. There is no perfect

solution inherent in relocation cases, which are markedly difficult, no matter the outcome.

But the court’s decision here was a perfectly reasonable one based on the record. Therefore,

and without more to overcome the “ ‘always strong and compelling’ ” presumption in favor

of the result reached by trial courts in relocation cases, we agree with its ultimate decision

here. Fatkin, 2019 IL 123602, ¶ 32 (quoting Gallagher, 60 Ill. App. 3d at 31-32).

¶ 69 Accordingly, for all the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

¶ 70 Affirmed.