Divorce is never easy for families to endure and, in some cases, it can have a profound impact on how children cope with the aftermath. Despite having a custody order in place, which you and your co-parent must comply with, your children may sometimes try to refuse it. If your children are refusing to visit their other parent, however, you are likely wondering if this will result in any negative legal consequences and what you should do about it.
Your Role in Facilitating Visitation
Parents must make their children reasonably available for visitation. If your children are refusing visitation, a judge may be more understanding if they are older and can exercise more agency. However, if your children are young, a judge will expect you to do everything reasonably possible to ensure the visitation order is obeyed. Call your co-parent if your children are refusing visitation and keep them informed about the situation. You might also consider inviting your co-parent to speak to the children and assess the situation. Doing so will show a judge that you put an honest effort into ensuring the order was complied with even if you were unsuccessful.
If you do not fulfill your obligation to make the children available for visitation, you may face contempt charges. If this becomes a consistent problem, your former spouse might even have cause to request a modification of the child custody order.
Find Out Why
If your children did not previously refuse visitation, find out the reason behind this sudden change in behavior. Perhaps something about your former spouse’s living circumstances changed and your children feel uncomfortable. If you suspect the situation is a danger to their safety or overall wellbeing, speak to an attorney as soon as possible and address the matter to the court. Even if their safety is not in jeopardy, understanding and resolving the reason behind their refusal is crucial to eliminating these issues and reducing potential conflict between you and your former spouse.
Ultimately, the more you communicate and seek to understand your children, the better you can navigate these obstacles and avoid more time spent in family court. That said, if you do need legal intervention, be sure to seek the guidance of a knowledgeable child custody attorney as soon as possible to ensure your parental rights are protected.
Discuss the Details of Your Case with a Skilled Child Custody Attorney Today!
If your children are refusing visitation and you believe you are in need of legal assistance, the experienced team at The Springer Law Firm PLLC can provide the exceptional representation you need to get through it. We understand the difficulties parents face in the aftermath of a split and will do everything possible to ease these troubles, so your family can continue to move forward and find peace.
Do not hesitate to contact our law office today for the help you need. Call us today at (281) 990-6025 to set up an initial consultation with a trusted member of our team.