What to Do When Mom Withholds the Children
Hi, my name is Clint Hastings. I’m a Tulsa Dads.Law attorney here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I focus on father’s rights.
Today, I want to talk about what to do when mom withholds the children from you without having an emergency court order.
Filing a Motion To Enforce Visitation
If you already have a court-ordered visitation schedule, you can file a motion to enforce visitation. This is designed to be a fairly straightforward process. You’ll file a motion using the approved court form, stating that you have a valid visitation order and that mom is withholding your time with the children. Once filed, the court must set a hearing within 21 days and resolve the issue within 45 days.
At that hearing, the court can order several remedies. They can require mom to provide makeup visitation, they can make her post a bond to ensure she complies with future orders, or they can send both parties to mediation to resolve the dispute. In some cases, the court can even modify visitation to your benefit.
Enforcing Your Rights as a Parent
Each custody order includes a provision requiring the custodial parent to facilitate visitation with the noncustodial parent. When that’s violated, you must take action. Don’t just sit back and do nothing. If you don’t enforce your rights, mom may continue to withhold visitation knowing you won’t respond. By consistently enforcing your rights, you show the court that you’re serious about your parenting time. Over time, repeated violations by the mother could lead to a custody modification in your favor.
Call For A Consultation
Let us know if you have any questions or if you’d like a consultation, and we’ll be glad to help. Call Tulsa visitation enforcement attorney Clint Hastings at 918-962-0900 to schedule your low-cost consultation today!
