Travel Expenses

The Mississippi Court of Appeals decided Branch v. Branch yesterday located here.  One of the issues in the case was the travel expenses of the noncustodial parent to exercise visitation.  This case has probably the most detailed discussion of the issue I am aware of.  Ultimately the trial court affirmed the noncustodial parent being responsible for all transportation costs despite the fact it was a twelve (12) hour round trip.  The Court of Appeals left open however that a modification may be appropriate which is largely why it was being affirmed.  Based on the ages of the children and the locations to an airport, I think they could get plane tickets from Jackson to Nashville cheaper than driving.  A total of twenty-four hours driving on a weekend for visitation is too much for a parent and a child both.