Pennsylvania parents and others who are denied the right to visit with their child may eventually be able to obtain the right. The first step toward doing so is to determine why visitation rights were denied. For instance, a judge may have felt that a parent could put a child’s emotional or physical health in jeopardy. In some cases, parents will be asked to attend parenting classes or a rehab program before they can see their children on a regular basis.
There is a chance that the child’s other parent will deny an individual the ability to see his or her children. A custodial parent may assert that the noncustodial parent is abusive or doesn’t have reliable transportation. Custodial parents could also cite a lack of financial support as a reason for denying visitation. However, this may not hold up in court as the law tends to see visitation and child support as separate matters.
Ideally, parents will resolve issues on their own before going to court. Parents may be able to address issues on their own in a private meeting either with or without legal counsel present. Those who are not able to see their children should document all attempts to do so and why they were not successful. These logs may be used in court during a visitation or custody hearing.
Individuals who are in the midst of a child custody dispute may want to seek guidance from a legal professional. Doing so may make it easier to clarify what the dispute is about and what an individual hopes to gain from meeting with the other parent or taking a matter to court. Depending on the circumstances of a case, it may be possible for a parent to gain custody of a child.
