Visitation and Feeding Responsibilities
So, you’ve had weekend visitation with your children. You’re taking them back Sunday evening—5, 6, 7, or 8 o’clock. Do you have to feed them dinner? Hi, I’m Tulsa Dads.Law attorney Clint Hastings. I focus on fathers’ rights, and I practice here in Tulsa. I’ve been practicing family law for about 25 years.
Common Issue: Returning Hungry Kids
This issue comes up all the time. Dad doesn’t feed the kids, brings them back hungry, and mom has to scramble to feed them before bed and school the next day. She’s upset—not only because of the cost of the meal when you’ve had them all day, but also because of the hassle and because the kids may come back grumpy.
So, what do you do? Should you be feeding them? In general, yes. If you have the children during regular mealtimes—like dinner—you’re expected to feed them. If you’re returning them at 6 or 7 p.m., you should provide dinner.
Legal Implications and Court Actions
But is this such a big issue that she can take it to court? Possibly. If it happens consistently, she could bring it up, and a judge might order that the children should be fed before returning home. On the flip side, if she drops them off to you on a Friday night at 8 p.m., she should also have fed them dinner before the exchange. These things can be raised in the same way if there’s disagreement.
If you have a parenting coordinator, this is the type of minor issue they can help resolve. Hopefully, though, it doesn’t rise to the level of needing court involvement. Too often, these situations escalate when parents argue just to prove a point—Dad says he’s already contributing financially, Mom says she’s stuck with the hassle, and the cycle continues.
Let’s Discuss Your Family Law Situation
The bottom line: be reasonable. Even if you’re not strictly required to feed them before drop-off, the judge is likely to wonder, “Why can’t this dad just feed his kids dinner?” Being reasonable not only avoids conflict but also helps you look good in court if more serious issues ever come up.
I hope this helps. Give Tulsa visitation enforcement attorney Clint Hastings a call at 918-962-0900 for a consultation on this or any other family law matter, and we’ll be glad to speak with you.
