Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts
child visitation
we have three children who are 13, 15 and 17. They no longer like to come over on dad visitation weekends. Can we just not take the kids anymore unless they want to come over and how does this affect child support?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: child visitation
It does not impact on child support. You can do nothing, or you can modify the agreement. Be careful of what you ask for.
Re: child visitation
Visitation and child support are not connected. Period.
Children of this age often "vote with their feet." This means that the non-custodial parent, usually father, has to work harder to make arrangements that work for the affected child or children. Both parents should find a way to agree to this, and to begin working on alternative arrangements. While this is often heartbreaking to fathers, there is a point when the struggle becomes counterproductive and HURTS their relationship with the child.
At the same time, kids who want to go to visit a fit non-custodial parent (i.e., not violent, extremely neglectful, verbally abusive or inappropriate, or otherwise abusive) should NEVER be discouraged by their custodial parents
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