Divorce or separation can be emotionally taxing for both parents and children involved. When a custody arrangement is established, visitation is scheduled to ensure that the noncustodial parent maintains a meaningful relationship with their children.
Visitation or parenting time is a legal right that allows parents to spend time with their child. However, sometimes the non-custodial parent may fail to show up for their scheduled visits, which can have negative consequences for both the child and the custodial parent.
In this article, we’ll explore what happens if the noncustodial parent loses visitation, and what custodial parents can do to protect their rights and the best interests of their child.
What Is a Non-Custodial Parent?
A non-custodial parent is parent who does not have physical custody. This is a parent that the child does not live with the majority of time. Let’s say that child lives with their mother Monday between Friday. And that they visit their father on weekends. In this case, mother is custodial parent. This is because the child lives with her the major part of time. And the father is non-custodial parent.
Non-Custodial Parent Misses Visitation impacts on the Parent-Child Relationship
When non-custodial parent forget visit consistently, they are breach court orders and hurting their relationship with their child. Child may feel disappointed, confused, as, and angry, or rejected by the absent parent.
They may also develop behavioral or emotional problems, such as low self-esteem, depression, fear and attack, or poor academic performance. The child may also lose trust in the non-custodial parent and become shy to see them in future.
The impacts of missed visitation on the custodial parents
When non-custodial parent forget visit, it can also affect the custodial parent. Custodial parent may have to deal with child’s emotional distress and cope with their own feelings of frustration, and resentment, or sin.
They may also have to rearrange their plans or incur additional expenses to put up non-custodial parent’s absence. Custodial parent may also face legal challenges if they try to deny or limit visit at to non-custodial parents.
The legal consequences of missed visitation
If non-custodial parent forget visit repeatedly or without a valid reason, they may face legal upshot. Custodial parent may file motion for contempt of court, which could result in non-custodial parent receiving a fine, being ordered to attend counselling, or having their visit rights modified or cancel entirely.
Court may also consider the non-custodial parent’s failure to the exercise visit as a factor in determining child support, custody decrease, or relocation requests. In extreme cases, court may terminate the non-custodial parent’s parental rights fully.
Emotional Impact on the Non-Custodial Parent
Just as forget visit can affect the child emotionally, it can also take toll on the non-custodial parent. Feelings of sin, anger, sadness might occur when they are unable to spend time with their children as planned. It is crucial for non-custodial parent to communicate with custodial parent about their feelings and work towards finding solution that benefits everyone involved.
The possible solutions for missed visitation
If non-custodial parent forget visit occasionally or due to accidental circumstances, such as illness, and work emergency, or transportation issues, they should communicate with the custodial parent as soon as possible and try to reschedule the visit. They should also apologize to child and explain why they could not make it.
If non-custodial parent forget visit frequently or intentionally, they should seek professional help to address the underlying issues that stop them from fulfilling their parental duty. They should also cooperate with the court and follow any orders or direction that aim to improve their relationship with their child.
If custodial parent is concerned about the non-custodial parent’s behavior or safety of their child during visit, they should consult with a family law lawyer to explore their legal options and protect their rights.
Court Actions for Repeat Visitation Violations
If parent continues to breach the visitation order, a judge may take more drastic measures, and including decrease of custody rights. In fact, they could lose their parental time fully.
That’s right, a parent’s rights may be meaningfully limited if they continue to fail to abide by the court order and continue to fail to exercise parenting time. Additionally, if parent has been absent from the child’s life for too long, the parent may be ordered to participate in healing Intervention if they wish to the get involved in
Conclusion
Visitation is vital part of a child’s well-being and development. When non-custodial parent forget visit, it can have serious upshot for both the child and custodial parent.
Therefore, both parents should respect and comply with court-ordered visitation schedule and work together to confirm that their child has a positive and consistent relationship with both of them. If there are any problems or debate regarding visitation, they should seek legal advice and assistance from qualified family lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the legal consequences of missed visitation?
Repeatedly forget visit can lead to legal consequences for non-custodial parent, including fines, counselling, and modified visitation rights, and even termination of the parental rights in extreme cases
What is the impacts of missed visitation on the Parent-Child Relationship?
Consistent forget visit by non-custodial parent damages the parent-child relationship, and leading to emotional pain in child and potential long-term behavioral issues.
What if the non-custodial parent misses visitation due to work obligations?
If the non-custodial parent has to forget visit due to work duty, they should notify the custodial parent as soon as possible and make arrangements to reschedule the visitation. If the custodial parent agrees, non-custodial parent can make up the visitation at later date and time suitable for both parties.
