When it comes to visitation, as is the case for all child custody matters, the most important thing is doing what is in a child’s best interests. It is vital for custodial parents to keep this in mind when it comes to concerns they have regarding the other parent’s visitation time.
One thing custodial parents should steer far clear from is trying to use visitation time as a bargaining chip to manipulate their ex’s behavior or as a means of getting revenge on their ex for past wrongs. This is because what sort of visitation time one’s ex has with the kids does not just impact one’s ex, it also impacts the kids. Having time with both parents can be important for a child post-divorce. Thus, when a divorced individual tries to block an ex’s visitation time for personal reasons, they could be negatively impacting their children’s ability to cope with the divorce.
Now, there are certain circumstances under which significantly limiting an ex’s visitation time with the kids could be in the children’s best interests. Instances in which abuse is suspected are one example of this.
When a custodial parent suspects that their ex is abusing the kids or engaging in other conduct that would make limiting visitation time in the kids’ bests interests, it is important for them to address the situation in a proper manner. They should not take unauthorized actions to deprive their ex of court-ordered visitation time, as this could expose them to significant legal problems and limit their future options. Rather, they should stick to proper legal channels. One legal option they may have is to submit a request for a change in a visitation order.
Custodial parents who are concerned about how well-suited the current visitation-time arrangement regarding their ex is for their children’s best interests should consider having a discussion about their options with an experienced family law attorney.
Source: The Huffington Post, “5 Tips for Helping Your Child Cope With Divorce,” Jennifer C. Walton, Dec. 9, 2015