Ohio parents may have concerns about an existing child custody or visitation order. While these concerns are normal, it may not necessarily be enough to forbid a child from having a relationship with both parents. In fact, parents may be held in contempt of court if they do not comply with the terms of a custody or visitation agreement. If a parent does decide to prevent a child from seeing a mother or father, it is important to carefully document the reason why.
It is generally valid to prevent a child from being transferred to the other parent’s care if the child is apprehensive about an upcoming transition. Children who are anxious may be unable to sleep, specifically ask not to see the other parent or cry more than usual. If children are anxious about seeing their other parent, it may be worth discussing those concerns with that individual.
However, if that is not possible, a domestic dispute may be resolved by a judge. In some cases, a custody or visitation order may be modified in a number of ways. Parents may be required to move to a safer neighborhood, attend parenting classes or make other changes to remain a part of their children’s lives. Alternatively, a judge could decide to leave an existing order intact.
The best interests of the child tend to be the most important factor when resolving a custody or visitation dispute. An attorney may be able to help a parent show that keeping an order intact may result in a son or daughter being harmed by the other parent. This may be done by reading a statement from a doctor or showing photographic evidence of abuse. Statements from teachers or other adults may also be used as evidence at a hearing.