Some child custody violations are forms of custodial interference. One person is intentionally trying to interfere with their shared custody order or refusing to adhere to it.
This can happen by accident, such as if there is a miscommunication between co-parents about when they are supposed to exchange custody of their child. But if it happens intentionally, it can sometimes result in litigation or modifications to a family’s child custody order. Let’s look at a few examples of custodial interference.
Refusing to make an exchange
One of the most obvious examples of custodial interference is when one parent refuses to turn over their child for the other parent’s designated time. Both parents are obligated to follow their child custody schedule at all times. Even if there is an external dispute, such as a disagreement over child support obligations or house rules that parents need to enforce, they generally cannot refuse to exchange custody.
Missing important deadlines
In other cases, even though a parent does not directly refuse to make an exchange, they consistently miss deadlines. They are always late for the exchanges. This can have a very negative impact on a child’s life, and it certainly violates the other parent’s custody rights because they have less time to spend with their child.
Issues with contact
Finally, custodial interference can sometimes involve how one parent contacts their child. A parent may try to unreasonably limit online contact or phone contact with the other parent. Or, even though the other parent has custody, they may show up unannounced and try to visit the child during that custody time.
Seeking a resolution
These are just three examples of many potential types of custody issues that could arise in re: custodial interference. Parents who find themselves in a conflict need to know what legal steps they can take. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to benefit from informed clarity.