When it comes to visitation after divorce, you have every intention of making things work. However, there’s something you need to remember: You’re not the only person involved in the process.
If your ex-spouse and your children aren’t on the same page as you, you could find yourself with a problem on your hands.
Here are some visitation issues to watch for and protect against:
- Your ex ignores the visitation schedule: Take, for example, a situation in which your ex has visitation rights. While you want to follow the court-approved schedule, your ex continually violates it. This can result in frustration on your part, as well as missed parenting opportunities for both of you.
- Your children don’t want to go: Depending on their age, your children may have some concerns about visiting with their other parents when you’re not around. As long as everything checks out from a safety perspective, you should both sit down with your children to explain what’s happening. Sometimes, clearing the air is all it takes to ease the tension.
- Your ex doesn’t return your children on time: This is a serious visitation issue, as it’s scary when your ex doesn’t show up with your children when they’re supposed to.
If you come face-to-face with one or more of these visitation issues, among others, don’t wait to communicate your concerns to your ex. Should they ignore you and/or continue to take the same approach, it’s time to review your visitation agreement and determine if you’re in a position to take legal action. You may need to request a modification from the court that issued the order.