Sonya Mae Stanley v. Colin Richard Stanley

This appeal arises from a father’s petition to relocate with his minor children.  The father sought to relocate to Oklahoma in order to work on his family’s farm, which he hoped to eventually inherit.  The father, as the parent spending the greater amount of time with the children, sent the children’s mother a notice of intent to move.  The father then filed a petition to relocate with the minor children to Oklahoma.  The trial court concluded that, because he was the petitioner, the father bore the burden of proof on whether the move was for a reasonable purpose.  After both parents presented their proof, the trial court denied the request to relocate.  The court found the father lacked a reasonable purpose for the proposed move.  Because we conclude the burden of proof rested with the mother, we vacate and remand for further proceedings.