Understanding Your Visitation and Parenting Time Rights in Ohio
Child custody, child visitation, and parenting time are the most highly contested issues in family law matters, which is why working with a credible visitation and parenting time attorney in Columbus, OH is highly recommended. When the end of a partnership is inevitable, each parent must take responsibility for continuing to provide for their child and maintain a meaningful relationship with them.
At Sheppard Law Offices, we are dedicated to providing compassionate and effective legal representation to clients facing a variety of family law matters. We can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the best possible outcome for you and your family. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our trusted Ohio family law attorneys and learn how we can help with your family law case.
What Is a Reasonable Visitation?
When a couple with children divorces or no longer lives together, the parent who does not have primary physical custody has visitation rights. Notably, visitation orders can vary greatly, which is why it is important to seek legal advice from our competent Columbus visitation and parenting time attorney to help you make decisions based on the situation of the parents and what is in the best interests of the children.
In most cases, a custody order, either based on the court’s decision or the parents’ agreement, will award physical custody to one parent and “reasonable visitation” to the non-custodial parent, without a specified frequency or schedule for that visitation.
Reasonable visitation works best when parents communicate respectfully. Whether parents can work out the visitation arrangement on their own or during mediation, it must be signed by a judge to become a binding and enforceable order.
What are the Factors Considered When Determining Visitation and Parenting Time Arrangements?
Various factors must be considered when establishing a visitation and parenting schedule. Because each family is unique, these will not be the same for every situation. Working with a knowledgeable Columbus OH visitation and parenting time lawyer can help ensure that all relevant factors are considered and that your legal rights are protected.
If the parents cannot agree on a visitation schedule for their children, a court should consider the following factors when rendering a decision establishing visitation parameters:
- Child’s relationship with each parent
- Distance between parents’ homes
- The flexibility of parent’s and child’s schedules
- Mental and physical health of both parents
- The wishes of both parents
- The wishes of the child (depending on age and maturity)
- Holidays and vacations
- Availability of transportation
- Residential living standards of parents after divorce
- Parent’s history of criminal activity, domestic violence, or substance abuse
What Happens When a Visitation and Parenting Time Order is Violated?
Unfortunately, violation of visitation and parenting time orders is one of the more common problems of long-term co-parenting. These issues can add considerable costs and inconveniences to your life, creating inconsistencies and confusion for your children. This happens when a parent does any of the following:
- Repeatedly cancel with little notice
- Neglects to use parenting time and fails to show up
- Fail to reasonably work with the other parent on holidays or vacation times.
- Show up late for pick-up or drop-off times
If a parent violates a court-ordered visitation and parenting time schedule, the parent whose rights have been violated can file a petition with the court to enforce the order. They can also seek to modify the order to request a different arrangement that may prevent the withholding of visitation. Our qualified Columbus visitation and parenting time lawyer can help you understand the possible consequences of violating a shared parenting agreement or court order.
What are the consequences to face when a party fails to comply with court orders?
The severity of punishments is at a judge’s discretion with penalties often increasing with the severity of the violation. When a party fails to comply with a court’s order, he or she may face the following consequences:
- Contempt of Court
- Jail time
- Fines
- Revocation of driver’s license
- Makeup parenting time for the parent who missed time with their children
- Other punishments the court finds appropriate based on the circumstances
- Modification of the parenting time order
- Loss of custody or parental rights
What is Visitation and Parenting Time?
Under Ohio law, visitation, often called “parenting time,” refers to the rights of a parent to spend time with their child. In Ohio, visitation and parenting time are determined by court orders or agreements between the parents. Both parents have the right to see their children, but the court may arrange visitation for the parent who does not have primary physical custody of the child, which may entail specific conditions. These court orders may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each case.
Some parents work out their own custody and visitation agreement, either as a stand-alone parenting agreement or as part of an overall divorce settlement agreement. These orders or agreements dictate the amount of time the non-custodial parent is allowed to spend with their child.
Visitation and parenting time are important rights for both parents and children. It’s essential to work with our top-ranking Columbus visitation and parenting time attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and that your child’s best interests are being served.
Why Do I Need a Visitation and Parenting Time Attorney in Ohio?
Going through a divorce or a legal separation where children are involved is a challenging situation. When it comes to child custody and visitation rights, the stakes are high. Our skilled Columbus visitation and parenting time attorney can help you obtain favorable custody and parenting time agreement terms.
At Sheppard Law Offices, we are committed to:
- Helping you ensure that the court order is enforceable, that you have the time you need with your child, and that your visitation and parenting time rights are protected.
- Presenting evidence and making persuasive arguments in court that your proposed visitation and parenting time schedule is in the best interests of your child.
- Navigating complex legal issues such as relocation, modification, and enforcement of court orders and ensuring that you comply with Ohio’s legal requirements.
- Helping you avoid mistakes and ensuring that you are not taken advantage of during the legal process.
Going through a child custody or visitation case can be stressful and emotional. If you are facing a visitation and parenting time issue in Ohio, schedule a free consultation with us today to learn more about your legal options.
Call Our Experienced Columbus Visitation and Parenting Time Attorney Now!
When determining child custody and parental visitation time, Ohio courts will put the child’s best interest first. Visitation and parenting time are crucial for both parents and children, and Ohio has specific laws governing these issues. If you are facing visitation and parenting time issues, it’s important to work with our Columbus OH visitation and parenting time attorneys at Sheppard Law Office who can help you understand your state’s laws and ensure that you’re protecting your visitation rights.
Providing your children with a stable and harmonious environment to grow is the goal of our work in creating custody, visitation, and parenting time arrangements. Whether you are seeking to establish a parenting time schedule or enforce an existing order, we are here to provide you with the guidance and support you need.
Our family law firm has years of experience helping clients in Columbus, Mount Vernon, and Newark with their visitation and parenting time issues. We also handle cases related to bankruptcy, tax, probate, and estate planning.
Contact us now and schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you with your visitation and parenting time issues.
