Legal Question in Family Law in Connecticut

My daughter and her husband seperated in November of 2011. They lived in Mass. as a couple, and when seperated my daughter and grandaughter moved to Ct.. At that time their daughter was 1yr and 4 months old. They had a written agreement noterized amongst themselves about visitation, child support etc. Nothing was ever agreed to in the court system. The first six months we were driving my grandaughter back and forth to see her father every other weekend and he was making weekly phone calls to her. After the six months he was to be responsible for the traveling to and from for visitation. Upon that time he made no attempts to come and take or even see his daughter. Eventually even the phone calls stopped. It has been at least 6 months since she has seen her father and almost as long talking to him. We have always made it a point to keep pics of him out and remind her that is Daddy. She knows and can tell you the people in her life by name, but is unable to tell you who the man "Daddy" is in the pictures. Out of the blue he called and wants to take her for the weekend. My daughter proposed a supervised visitation or even just a few hour out to lunch, park etc visit to see how she reacts to being with him and he flat out refuses to do that. I feel as though even this is her father, in her eyes he is a stranger. We do not want to be in contempt of court since legally they have joint custody at this point, but we also do not want to have an almost 2 1/2 yr old with a stranger to her alone for a whole weekend. There is no threat of abuse, just that emotionally it may be stressful on her. Our question is...Is she reacts negatively to going with her father should we make her go?


Asked on 12/13/12, 8:15 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Linda Subbloie Linda A. Subbloie, Esq.

It isn't clear from your question whether they obtained court orders of custody. First you said they did not and then you said they did.

Nevertheless, I don't think he should see the child without supervision. Six months is a long time for a very young child. If he doesn't agree then he doesn't see her.

If there are court orders in place, I do not think you would be in contempt if he filed a motion.

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Answered on 12/13/12, 10:06 am


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