Parents in Arizona generally get to stay in contact with their children after a divorce. However, custodial parents who have concerns about their children’s safety may feel uncomfortable about complying with a visitation order. Those concerns could range from how a child is treated while in the other household to a son or daughter feeling anxious about seeing that parent. In some cases, it may be acceptable to deny visitation to a noncustodial parent.
This is generally true if there are concerns about the child’s safety or if the kid refuses to visit the other parent. It is important to note that a parent who won’t comply with a custody or visitation order may be held in contempt of court. Therefore, it is critical to establish that a son or daughter is truly in danger before defying that order.
Ideally, parents will resolve their differences without the need to go to court. However, a judge may be willing to modify an order if a parent refuses to move out of a dangerous neighborhood or make other reasonable changes to ensure a child’s safety. During a court hearing, a custodial parent will typically be granted an opportunity to outline any concerns to the judge.
Those who have concerns about an existing child custody order may want to talk about them with an attorney. Legal counsel could help a parent document any issues he or she is having with the other parent. The lawyer may also organize any documents that a parent already has before attending a court hearing. In lieu of going to court, parents might be able to work out their child custody issues through private talks or by working with a mediator.