What If A Parent Violates A Parenting Plan?
Posted on: 18 March 2019
Putting together a parenting plan is a beneficial way to improve your parenting relationship. When you put together a parenting plan, both of you agree to specific terms. You agree to participate in getting your child where he or she needs to be or ensure that you are abiding by rules put forth by the judge.
Are you afraid you may have violated your parenting plan? Did your child's other parent violate the plan? Read on to see what the consequences may be.
What Is Violating a Parenting Plan?
One way in which a person violates a parenting plan is when the parent intentionally and repeatedly violates the terms of visitation. Perhaps one parent refuses to bring the child to the other parent's house on time and is always 10 minutes late. Or perhaps they never show up to a visitation center on time.
Alienation is another way in which a violation can occur. If you try to alienate your child so that he or she has negative feelings toward the other parent, you could be accused of violating the order.
And sometimes, one parent will prevent the other from seeing the child at all. They may refuse to drop off the child with the other parent in spite of a court order. In some cases, parents have tried to flee the state or country with the child.
What Are the Consequences of Violating a Parenting Plan?
Violating a court-ordered parenting plan is more than bad form. It means that you could be held in contempt of court. You should never take it lightly when you are held in contempt of court. If the other parent pushes the issue, you could find yourself facing many repercussions.
If violations are common or especially grievous, the court might consider it a serious breach. As a result, the parent in violation may face consequences linked to custody or visitation. Some courts strip custodial rights from the offending parent. Additionally, the court may order you to take a parenting class or to attend counseling alongside the other parent.
Some of the consequences impact the other parent as well. For instance, he or she may be awarded more time with the child if he or she missed out for some reason.
Do you still have questions about the parenting plan you have in place? Speaking with a family law attorney service may shed light on the situation and provide you with more information about parenting plan violations.
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