Legal Question in Family Law in Utah

timeframe to answer the notice for extended visitation time

I am a custodial parent. My child's father proposed dates for his next year's Christmas visitation time and I am not sure I am willing to plan so far ahead. He told me that if I didn't respond to his proposal soon, then he'd just make the decision himself. What are my rights here? Can he force me into a quick decision like this, or is there a certain amount of time I am allowed before I have to finalize things with him?


Asked on 1/05/09, 2:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Cory Wall Cory R. Wall, Attorney at Law, P.C.

Re: timeframe to answer the notice for extended visitation time

In answering your question, much depends on what the status is between yourself and your child's father. If you were married to him and are divorced, your divorce decree should clearly spell out the parent-time schedule of when each of the parents has the child for the various holidays throughout the year. If you were not married to him, I'm assuming neither of you filed a parentage action against the other and so there is no court order. If there were an order, it would include the same parent-time provisions as those which are normally contained in a decree of divorce. Unless and until there is a court order in place, he can't force you into making any decisions. If you haven't obtained a proper court order, I would strongly recommend that you do so in order to avoid this sort of manipulation. If you need any assistance, you can contact me at [email protected].

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Answered on 1/07/09, 12:10 am


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