After a divorce, children often have trouble adjusting to living apart from one parent at any given time. They may struggle to get used to custody schedules or could feel anger at having to be at different homes every few days. One of the ways they may express themselves is by refusing to see the other parent.
This is a problem. Your ex-spouse has a legal right to spend time with their child, and they could blame you for keeping them apart. Learn about some steps you can take to resolve this problem.
Speak With Your Child
Your child’s well-being is most important, so take the time to understand why they don’t want to see the other parent. Create a safe space for them so that they can express everything they feel without fearing being judged or reprimanded.
Don’t put any pressure on them, but do what you can to understand whether there was anything that occurred that upset them the last time they visited the other parent. There may not be a specific issue, but instead, your child could feel a general sense of discomfort.
It’s a good idea to document the conversation. If possible, recording it can help. It can make it easier for your ex-spouse to understand what’s happening and could be necessary if the court is brought into the mix.
If there are safety worries regarding the time your child spends with the other parent, you need to act quickly. Reaching out to your attorney is vital so that they can start filing motions.
Communicate With Your Ex-Spouse
Don’t allow your ex-spouse to think you’re not following custody schedules. As soon as the first instance of your child refusing to go to the other parent’s home occurs, get on the phone with them. This isn’t easy, especially if the divorce was contentious, but not communicating can lead to legal consequences.
With your ex-spouse, you can look for ways to make your child more comfortable. If both of you agree to it, you may spend a few hours at the other parent’s home when you drop your child off so that they can adjust.
Turn to Professionals
If you and your ex-spouse can’t work together or you’ve tried everything you can think of to no avail, speaking with a counselor can be a good option. Counseling, whether just for your child or for all of you, can offer guidance on how to make this transition easier for everyone.
Contact the Team at Gucciardo Family Law
If your child continues to refuse to see your ex-spouse and there are worries about being found in contempt of court for not obeying custody orders, you need legal assistance. At Gucciardo Family Law, we handle all types of custody and divorce issues, no matter how complex.
With experienced and compassionate attorneys by your side, you have the ongoing support you need to navigate family law problems. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
