Ideally, both parents subject to a time-sharing orders do everything in their power to comply with them. Unfortunately, parents often put their own emotions ahead of what might be best for their children or the family.
One parent might repeatedly cancel or reduce the other’s scheduled time with the children. The lack of time with the children can result in a strained relationship. A parent dealing with that type of interference may need to go to court to enforce the initial order. A judge can offer the frustrated parent relief while holding the other parent accountable for their misconduct.
Judges have multiple options
Judges actually have several methods available to them when hearing a complaint related to time-sharing enforcement. The simplest involves ordering makeup parenting time for the parent denied access to the children.
In more serious cases, they could hold the parent who has violated the order in contempt of court. The judge could also order the parent to attend a parenting course. They may have to perform community service as a punishment.
Judges can even require the parent who violated the order to pay the other parent’s attorney costs. In scenarios involving particularly egregious or repeat violations, a judge can modify the time-sharing order to allocate more time to the parent who has brought the complaint to the courts.
If a co-parent isn’t willing to correct issues with time-sharing through mutual agreement, then taking legal action may be the only viable option. Asking the courts to enforce a time-sharing order can help a parent preserve their relationship with their children despite a co-parent’s attempt to interfere.