This article is being written to conclude and recap my series on whether or not there is an age at which children in Melbourne, Florida can outright stop visitation. I considered it important to write on this topic due to the fact that the issue is often a topic of misunderstanding between parents. This misunderstanding can lead to a great deal of conflict. I wrote my recent articles, therefore, with the goal of providing information which will help people to better understand their situation. It has also been my goal to provide information which will assist with the selection of a family law attorney. If you or a loved one are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
I addressed several topics over my recent articles. Issues which I analyzed included:
- Whether there is an age when children can stop visitation
- Dealing with a child who refuses to visit their other parent
- Family Courts and parental alienation
- Changing child custody due to parental alienation
There are multiple reasons why I chose to address these particular issues. First, many parents are under the mistaken belief that there is an age at which a child can refuse to see their other parent. No such age exists and a child does not gain this power until they reach the age of majority. Second, if a child is refusing visitation then it is important that parents identify the cause of the problem and deal with it. Family counseling may be a good option in some situations. Third, Courts may hold a parent in contempt if they find that a parent has actively been coaching the child to refuse visitation. Finally, if a parent is engaging in such coaching or alienation then the Court may be willing to modify the current custody order. This modification may even include changing custody in favor of the aggrieved parent.
An important point I stressed in each of these articles is that it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible if a child is refusing to follow through with visitation. The longer the current situation is allowed to go on then, quite often, the more it becomes likely that the Court will consider the current situation to be the “status quo.” This can make gaining compensatory visitation, or changing custody, that much more difficult. As a Melbourne child custody lawyer, I am familiar with the handling of such matters. If you are involved in a family law dispute then contact my office today to speak with an attorney. We also service clients in the Brevard County cities of Titusville, Cocoa, Palm Bay, Grant, Valkaria, and Rockledge, as well as in the Indian River County areas of Fellsmere, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, and Orchid.