No. Once a court grants visitation rights, the custodial parent cannot unilaterally deny or restrict them. Violating court-ordered visitation is contempt of court, punishable by fines or even jail time. The custodial parent can only deny visitation if you pose immediate danger to the child. For ongoing concerns, they must petition the court for visitation modification or suspension—they cannot take matters into their own hands. If your visitation is being denied, immediately contact us to file contempt proceedings and enforce your rights.

Document every instance—save messages, emails, record dates and excuses given. File a contempt petition in Family Court showing repeated violations of the visitation order. Courts take visitation denial seriously and can impose penalties including fines, makeup visitation time, modification of custody in your favor, or even jail time for persistent violators. In extreme cases of parental alienation, courts may transfer custody to you. We help you maintain detailed records and take strong legal action to protect your parental rights.

Yes, depending on various factors. Courts consider the child’s age (infants may have shorter visits initially), the strength of your bond with the child, distance between residences, your ability to provide appropriate care, and the child’s adjustment to the arrangement. Many non-custodial parents get overnight weekend visits, extended summer vacation time, and alternating holidays. As children grow and you demonstrate responsible parenting during visits, visitation can be expanded. We help you secure meaningful, substantial parenting time appropriate to your situation.

Absolutely. Courts accommodate long-distance parents through modified schedules: less frequent but longer visits (entire weekends, school breaks), extended summer vacation time (several weeks), alternating major holidays, and virtual visitation (video calls, phone calls) between physical visits. The key is proposing a practical plan that maintains meaningful contact despite distance. Long-distance visitation requires more detailed planning regarding transportation, costs, and logistics—we help create workable arrangements that keep you connected to your child.

Yes. Grandparents can petition for visitation rights, especially when they’ve had significant relationships with grandchildren and maintaining the bond serves the child’s welfare. Common situations include: parents denying access after divorce or death of their child (grandchild’s parent), parental unfitness or abandonment, or when grandparents were primary caregivers. However, parents’ rights take precedence—courts must balance parental authority with the child’s benefit from grandparent relationships. We help grandparents establish their meaningful role in the child’s life and secure visitation rights.

Unfortunately, yes. Courts may order supervised visitation not just for abuse, but also for substance abuse concerns (even if no incident occurred), mental health issues requiring monitoring, when you haven’t seen the child for an extended period (to rebuild relationship gradually), allegations of inappropriate behavior (even unproven), or when the child expresses fear or anxiety. Supervised visitation isn’t necessarily permanent—it can be a transitional measure. By consistently demonstrating responsible behavior during supervised visits, you can petition to progress to unsupervised visitation. We help you understand supervision terms and work toward expanded rights.