Withholding Visitation in a Custody
Is it legal to withhold visitation from a parent if there is no custody agreement? It's common for couples without child custody agreements to argue over access to the children. However, the law treats visitation rights as a matter of contract rather than a matter of law. This means that if you have no legal agreement, you can't take your ex to court for denying your visitation time with the children. Visitation Without Custody Agreement In some states, no law prohibits parents from withholding visitation with their children if they do not have an official custody agreement. The law states that if the parents are not separated, they have joint legal custody of their children and, therefore, can decide how to raise them. If parents have joint legal custody, they have equal decision-making power regarding the child's upbringing, healthcare, and education. The only exception is when one parent has been deemed unfit by the courts. Withholding visitation is typically considered ...