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Parents who are bound to the legal obligations and responsibilities set forth by family court owe it to their child and the child’s custodial parent to uphold visitation agreements. However, it is not uncommon that visitation orders are disobeyed. This causes unnecessary emotional stress on you as the custodial parent, and furthermore, your child as well. If you are struggling with a parent that is continually violating their visitation order, contact an experienced family law attorney at once. A skilled attorney will come up with a solution that is in the best interest of your child’s wellbeing and help protect your interests throughout each step of the process.

What Constitutes a Visitation Violation?

You may not see eye to eye on everything that the child’s other parent does or the specific activities that they do with the child. Letting a 12-year-old watch a PG-13 movie in the other room while the parent cooks dinner probably would not constitute a visitation violation in any family court. Such an agreement may be held between both parents, informally, but unless it is ordered by the court, it will not be a mandate under the law. However, if the parent fails to adhere to the specific terms provided in the visitation order, they may find themselves in trouble, as the court treats visitation violations, and the wellbeing of the child, very seriously. Some common examples of violations are as follows:

• Prolonging a visit
• Not adhering to the visitation schedule (such as visiting or contacting the child at undesignated times)
• Not adhering to supervised visitation orders (such as not having a third-party present)
• Failing to pick up or drop off the child at the designated place or time
• Asking another person to pick the child up, if not previously approved by the court

If a Visitation Order is Being Violated, Take Action Today

There are various routes you can go if a parent is violating their visitation order. The following steps are recommended by many family court systems:

• Call the police and ask that they enforce the order.
• Contact the local district attorney and ask if they have a child abduction and recovery unit.
• File an action for contempt with the court. By going this route, you will need a family attorney.

Let a Lawyer Help

Regardless of the immediate first steps you take, such as calling the police, it is crucial to contact an experienced family attorney at once in order to ensure that your rights are protected throughout this ordeal and that the visitation violations are put to an abrupt and permanent stop. Contact an experienced Bloomington family lawyer today for immediate assistance. They will work diligently and use all available legal resources to make sure your parental rights and your child’s safety are protected.

Thanks to Pioletti & Pioletti for their insight into family law and what to do when visitation orders are violated.