After going through a bitter divorce, some Ohio parents may search for leverage that can be used against an ex-spouse to get back at them for the pain they are experiencing. Some feel the only leverage they have left is the children. Custodial parents need to be aware of illegitimate reasons to refuse visitation rights that could lead to them possibly losing custody of their children and even facing fines or jail time.
A parent may be tempted to refuse visitation to an ex-spouse because they do not have a separate bedroom for the child. While this may cause them to feel concerned, it is not an appropriate reason to refuse visitation.
Visitation with children granted by a judge is not contingent on paying child support payments on time. If an ex has not paid, she or he still has the right to see the children. Along the same line, if a parent is being refused visitation rights, this does not mean that they can stop paying child support.
Sickness is not a lawful reason for a custodial parent to deny visitation to a non-custodial parent. In a situation where a child is hospitalized, the custodial parent must inform the non-custodial parent about the child being hospitalized and provide information so that the visit can take place at the hospital.
The custodial parent has the responsibility to structure the children’s schedule around visits with the non-custodial parent. If a non-custodial parent feels that the other parent is constantly blocking or refusing visitation, they may decide to speak with a lawyer. A lawyer might provide information about visitation and parenting time to help improve the situation or show what legal means are available to ensure they have regular visits with the children.