Parents who share custody of their minor children have to adjust to only seeing their children a certain percentage of the time. Parents who share custody generally need to follow the schedule as established and work with one another when unexpected situations arise.
In some cases, it may be necessary to cancel scheduled parenting time. When does a parent denied time with their children have the right to request makeup parenting time?
After the other parent cancels
If one parent chooses to cancel their time with their children, they can ask for makeup parenting time. However, the other parent has to agree to their request.
If one parent schedules a play date or a doctor’s appointment during the other’s time, the parent denied their court-ordered parenting time can reasonably request makeup parenting time. If the other parent refuses, then keeping a record of that lost time could be a smart move. Parents who consistently lose time with their children may be able to request makeup parenting time in family court.
In more extreme cases, judges dealing with repeated cancellations and denied parenting sessions might change their opinion about what is in the best interests of the children. They could modify the custody order to address the misconduct of one parent and the impact it has on the family. Ideally, co-parents can work with one another amicably to reschedule missed parenting sessions and meet the needs of the children.
In scenarios where one parent refuses to honor the current custody order, requesting custody enforcement or even a modification might be appropriate. Reviewing documentation of repeated cancellations with a skilled legal team can help parents decide if enforcement or modification requests are appropriate given their circumstances.
