Moving out of state with teen parent

My 16 year old daughter has a 2 month old child. My daughter was 15 and 11 months when she had the child. She still lives with us(parents) and has no current plans on getting married to the father and is planning on finishing school. The father who just turned 19 still lives with his parents and goes to a vocational school and has a job during the week. He comes over occasionaly during the week, and on the weekends he has the baby over at his parents house. We currently live in Indiana, but are planning on moving to Arizona in the near future. Are we legally able to take our daughter with her child to Arizona with us? Could there be some kind of custody problem. We have not pursued any kind of child support or established any kind of custody through the courts. The father is listed on the birth certificate and the child does have his last name. There is no animosity between us and the father, or his parents. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'd suggest you consult with an attorney in your area before taking your grandchild across state lines. Regardless of whether your daughter is still a minor or not, the biological father does have certain rights to his child and I'd suggest caution before depriving him of visitation rights by relocating halfway across the country without his consent or knowledge. I can't recommend strongly enough that a formal custody agreement which includes visitation and support (among other things) be drawn up with both parents' input and an attorney's guidance. You're not just talking about relocation here .. your decision directly affects your grandchild, your daughter, the biological father and another set of grandparents as well. Yes, I believe there most assuredly could be a "custody problem" .. particularly from the details you've posted. It isn't as if the biological father has either denied paternity or refused to participate in the baby's life., regardless of whether or not you've chosen to pursue child support. I don't believe this is a decision you should make without at the very least discussing this with your daughter, the baby's father, possibly his parents .. and an attorney all present.

Just an opinion here, but from your post, I'd say when it comes to your grandchild's "best interests," it should be a joint discussion and decision. Good luck.