When parents get divorced one of the most important things to think about is custody and visitation schedules for the children of the relationship. Divorce breaks the ties between husband and wife, custody splits the ties of parenting. It is important for both parents to understand that has a right to an ongoing relationship with each parent.
Even though the tendency is being reversed, it is the case that the typical judicial attitude towards custody usually favors women. Many judges still feel that women are naturally better at mothering than fathers are at fathering, and these judges will always show a bias towards the mother. However, with the changing of socio-economic structure of contemporary society, fathers are beginning to have a more significant role as parents. When a father has been given visitation rights these rights must not be interfered with.
The best case scenario is where the parents co-operate with each other to give the children lots of time with each parent. Sadly, it often ends up with the non custodial parent (usually the father) spending very little time with the children, and lots of angry arguments over delayed visits and children not being ready on time. To offset such problems, lots of courts order the parents to work out a fairly detailed custody schedule (known as a parenting agreement or parenting plan) which consists of a specific visitation schedule and also specifies who has responsibility for both the daily decisions and major decisions concerning the welfare of the children.
If your parenting plan has already been recognised by the courts then you already have a visitation schedule that can be enforced by law. Even though there may be times that you might have to compromise on visitation dates, such as sickness, appointments, special occasions etc. frequent interference with visitation can even be cited as a case for change of circumstances and used to modify the custody decision and even have custody reversed.
To begin with, visitation schedules are simply trials. each parent has little idea of what changes their relationship with the child might go through as the child grows. Very often the needs of parents and children mean that the parenting plan is often modified without going to court. Later, however, if either parent refuses to comply with the new arrangement, it may be difficult for the other parent to enforce the modified agreement because it hasn't been ratified by the court. So it is generally advisable to obtain court approval when modifying custody or visitation terms.
For the non custodial parent, ensure that your parenting schedule is very precise about your visitation rights, including holidays, the amount of hours and the places you can see your children. Most states consider it a crime to interfere with custody and visitation rights. It is referred to as "custodial interference". In most states, the parent deprived of custody may sue the taker for damages, as well as getting help from the police.
One area that fathers must be careful in is stopping child support payments because the mother has been interfering with his visitation rights Please don't confuse custody and visitation with child support. Despite what the mother may do, you must always pay child support. You may face heavy penalties for failing to meet your obligations. Every parent has an duty to support his or her children.
A major study identified a revealing connection between custody and visitation plans, degrees of conflict and the payment of court-ordered child support. Fathers were more likely to keep up with paying child support in situations when they had regular and frequent daytime and overnight visits with their children. , they became less likely to continue paying child support.
Are you the victim of a spiteful ex who is interfering with your visitation rights? If you are constantly being denied the right to spend time with you children, then visit Child Custody Information to find out how to choose the right child custody lawyer to make sure your ex does what the courts say.
Orignal From: Fathers Custody Rights - How To Enforce Your Visitation Rights
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