T.W.

BACKGROUND

Mother and Father work for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (the Department). Mother lives in Lancaster with G., and Father resides in Santa Clarita. At the time of G.’s birth, Mother and Father were no longer romantically involved. Since G.’s birth, Mother has been in a relationship with a man (now her fiancé) who lives in Tehachapi, a city roughly 50 miles northwest of Lancaster. Until the issuance of the orders that are the subject of this appeal, Mother and G. often spent time with her fiancé and his two children in Tehachapi attending family gatherings, birthday parties, and church services. Court custody proceedings between Mother and Father began in 2009 when Father filed a paternity action and obtained custody and visitation orders permitting him to visit G. twice a week. In 2011, Mother filed an Order to Show Cause asking to move to Tehachapi with G. Initial custody proceedings, including an evidentiary hearing, ensued over the next two years and Mother put her plans to move on hold. The family law court made its initial custody determination in December 2013, awarding Mother primary physical custody of G. and granting both parents joint legal…