In cases where parents can’t agree, a judge will decide visitation and custody based on the child’s best interests.Your custody order will designate which parent(s) has legal and physical custody. Typically, the age of majority is 18. Perhaps the most helpful thing you can do with a child who is refusing visitation is to document the incident and immediately notify the child’s other parent through a text message, email, or phone call as appropriate. Withholding visitation can be grounds for a change in custody, so you don't want to go there. The police have told me the same thing. Understanding some of the development of teenagers from 13 to 18 can help you make a better parenting plan and custody schedule for your teen. Brette's Answer: Dear Linda, I know how difficult your situation is. Under South Carolina’s family laws, there is no set age at which a child can refuse to go visit with the other parent. I bet your question is really not what a 15 year old can legally do or not do. If the child can't choose, how are custody and placement determined? At that point, it is up to the child and parent to continue their relationship as they wish. By WomansDivorce.com | Updated May 29, 2019, Get exclusive articles, tips, and resources. Can a teen to choose if they want go for visitation or not? he refuses… Generally speaking, the Court will not force your 17-year old daughter to comply with the Court order for visitation, due to here age. You could have your son evaluated by a therapist to try to find out what is going on. Brette's Answer: No court is going to force a 17 year old to go on visitation if he doesn't want to. Is he saying bad things about you or your boyfriend? If someone gets a promotion, moves, or remarries, custody and … Understanding some of the development of teenagers from 13 to 18 can help you make a better parenting plan and custody schedule for your teen. Can I stop visitation if she doesn't want to visit her father? If someone gets a promotion, moves, or remarries, custody and visitation can change. Can a 13 year old refuse visitation? From 13 to 18 years old, teenagers develop a sense of personal identity within the rules and regulations of society, school, and friends. Can a 13 year old refuse visitation? Would the judge at least order counseling for my son and me? Mary's Question: I have been divorced for 4 years. What would be best is if your son could learn to have an independent relationship with his dad where he arranges time to spend together on his own. After a child attains this age, he has all the legal rights of an adult, including the ability to decide with whom he wants to associate. (My ex has said he'd take me to court on contempt charges). When she was 7, she wanted a relationship with him and I reached out to him, only to be rejected. Custody Standard. A court will look at several factors when determining whether domestic violence is an appropriate reason to refuse visitation… Domestic Violence . Your custody … Show him you want to make it work. Specifically, you could ask your child’s other parent to call the child on the phone or come over to your house and try to speak with the child who is refusing visits. They don't get along at all and fight with each other constantly. However, whether you like it or not he is your dad and will be for the rest of your life. This may include dropping a child off at a certain location or at the other parent’s home. The short answer is yes, but with caveats. The outcome of your case will depend on whether a judge believes that your child—not you—is preventing the visits. Lisa's Question: I am another single mom with a visitation issue and concern. Disclaimer - Legal information is not legal advice. His father is not going to fight me for custody. We currently have shared custody and he is threatening to file for 50-50 custody. I have been ordered by the court for her to go, and gave my lawyer many items to support my daughter's reasons not wanting to. visitation is a right. The 15 year old is not a party to the court case that resulted in the parenting plan (theoretically the 15 year old could be, but it very rarely happens). If you have concerns that your child is being abused or harmed by the other parent, then you should contact your attorney immediately. I have 3 daughters (11 – 13 – 15). Be sure to put the details of the situation in writing (whether in a text message or email) and explain what efforts you made to get your child to cooperate with the visit. A parent who refuses to allow the other parent to see the child or fails to follow the terms of a custody order could face contempt charges. However, child custody laws in California became more progressive. For that matter, what does Virginia law say when your ex-wife is saying your children do not want to see you? You just need to go to court with a motion to modify the visitation and custody order to remove the unification and the visitation … It's also very responsible of you to follow the court order - you don't want to find yourself in contempt of court. Help! This helps the other parent understand the situation and places some obligation on their part to facilitate visits. If Your TeenAger Refuses Visitation With Their Dad When Children of Divorce Become Teens Whether you are a divorced parent or not, here is the reality of raising children, the older they become, the less interested they are in spending time with you. Another possibility is for your ex and your son to see a counselor together to try to resolve the issues between them. Brette's Answer: I think it is good to never give up on your child. The judge should not refuse to issue an abuse prevention order just because you cannot get an adult to come to court. Tracy's Question: My 17 year old has had some issues with his dad and on occasion has refused to go to the visitation. Don't accuse and don't judge. Most kids have resistance to visitation at some point. If parents aren’t able to agree, a judge will make a visitation and custody order based on the child’s best interests.. A custody order that worked for your three-year-old probably will not work for your fifteen-year-old. There are alternatives. Visitation (or parenting time) is described and legally outlined under Code of Virginia Title 20, Chapter 6.1. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, arrangements regarding custody and visitation. If my 18 year old refuses visitation, can he stop support? Part of being a teen is rebelling, making contrary decisions, and testing. The child can choose not to visit, but that decision is still subject to judicial review. 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