Child custody, visitation, and parenting agreements are regulated by a number of different laws, and your exact situation may be difficult to discern based on what you read online. In fact, you probably have a number of questions about what the law says about these things and how it will apply to your particular case. Here are brief, general answers to some frequently-asked questions about visitation and child custody laws.
Are Grandparents Entitled to Visitation?
All 50 states have laws on the books that allow grandparents who have been unjustly denied their visitation with their grandchildren to secure it legally, however these laws are generally not all that powerful, and they’re written in such a way that parents ultimately reserve the right to have the final say in what’s best for their children. Grandparents may only utilize these laws in a select few situations.
What is “Fixed Visitation?”
Fixed visitation is an option that’s usually only reserved for when there is an immense amount of hostility between both parents in a divorce agreement. These are highly-specific arrangements that give little control over visitation modifications to parents in order to limit the amount of contact between them. These also give children a sense of certainty and regularity in otherwise tumultuous times.
What is “Reasonable Visitation?”
When parents decide on a visitation schedule, the courts usually leave them to figure out what works on their own. However, the custodial parent may not deny the non-custodial parent their rights to see their children by limiting it to little or no time at all. This principle is known as “reasonable visitation,” and essentially means that the amount of visitation time the non-custodial parent receives must be acceptable in order for the schedule to be included in a parenting agreement.
How Can I Prevent Abuse During Visitation?
When a non-custodial parent has a history of physical abuse or other destructive behavior, you can request that all visitation time is done with supervision. This means that an adult other than the custodial parent must be present at all times during the visit. This may be an adult who is known or unknown to the child, but they must be approved by the court.
Have any additional questions regarding visitations, child custody, and creating the perfect parenting plan? Don’t hesitate to reach out to an Annapolis family law attorney for help! Call the Law Office of Nicholas T. Exarhakis today by dialing (410) 593-0040 for a case evaluation.