Legal Question in Family Law in California

Can a 16 year old be forced to go to her father's for visitation if she chooses

This 16 year old girl will be 17 in May. She has had to miss many family ans school functions such as weddings, sports competitions and funerals because her father, who has her every other weekend, refuses to let her cancel or reschedule her visits. He has threatend to call the police and to take her from her mother should she not come on his assigned weekends and she is living in fear of him. Is there an time when the child has reached the age when she can make her own choices free from these threats? I would like to know where I can go to find out what her rights actually are.

Thank you so much,

C. L. Thompson


Asked on 3/07/04, 12:11 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
PATRICK MCCRARY PATRICK MCCRARY

Re: Can a 16 year old be forced to go to her father's for visitation if she choo

A 16 year old needs a little more flexibility in her schedule, but you will probably need to change the court order to achieve that flexibility. File an order to show cause hearing requesting that the 16 year old be given some say in the schedule, but don't try to cut of Dad's time with the child or it may backfire. Good Luck, Pat McCrary

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Answered on 3/08/04, 12:21 pm


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