Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland
Is this denial of visitation?
Currently, the father and I meet at an Exchange ''Center'' to pass the child. Every now and then I have to attend school on Saturdays and can not meet at the Center. I take our child to his regular daycare provider on those days and notify the father. I give him the name, address and phone number of the provider and let him know to contact her to let her know when he is coming to get the child. He refuses to go get the child and yet tells me I am in contempt because I am denying access to his child. Last year we had a similar issue and the Judge frowned upon the fact he refused to go get the child for visitation. Is this really considered denial of visitation since I have provided all the necessary information for him to pick the child up? I will not be at the providers home because I will be in school. Please advise how to proceed because the father is threatening to take me to Court for Contempt.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Is this denial of visitation?
If the visitation order says the exchange must take place at the exchange center, then technically that's what is required. Minor deviations from this shouldn't be a problem, and everyone should be expected to work out life's variations. If, however, the day care provider was distant from the father and far less convenient that the exchange center, it could be viewed as frustrating his visitation. I don't think judges and masters have much sympathy for ridiculous inflexibility. Life happens.