Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Does my 16yr old daughter "have to" visit her mother if she does not want to? I have custody of her and she does not want to go for summer visitation with her mother in Michigan ( we live in Texas ). The divorce papers state that we are allowed 4 weeks of visitation during the summer. My 2 sons ( 9yrs and 11yrs old ) live with her. Our divorce was finalized in Georgia and at the age of 14 in GA, each child can decide who they want to live with. My daughter chose to live with me. We have since moved to Texas and her mother and brothers moved to Michigan. My daughter is now 16 years old and chooses not to go visit with her mother. Does she have to go? Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.

Vince


Asked on 4/20/11, 3:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Daley KoonsFuller PC

If the order gives her mother the right to summer possession, then she has to go. And you have to treat it like it's school. If she said she didn't want to go to school, you wouldn't let her out of it. Same thing here: She's not in charge.

On the other hand, I can't imagine being the other parent and forcing a 16 year old to come see me if she didn't want to. That can't be pleasant at all.

Therefore, I would suggest you try to work something out with her mother--parent to parent.

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Answered on 4/20/11, 6:57 pm


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