Adjusting to the difficulties of sharing custody with another parent often takes some time, particularly for parents who still hold some ill will toward each other. However, after a sufficient adjustment period, some parents continue behavior that causes conflict or distance in the other parent’s relationship with their child.
A parent’s rights to time with their child are important to protect. If one parent interacts with their child in a way that negatively affects the other parent’s relationship to the child, courts may take issue with this behavior. The law refers to this behavior as indirect parenting time interference, and courts often punish offending parents.
Your child’s other parent is free to live their life and to raise your child as they see fit, within the guidelines of your parenting agreement and custom plan. They are not free to undermine your relationship to your child, on the other hand. If you experience behavior that you suspect is indirect interference, it is wise to build a strong legal strategy to understand your options and how to protect your rights.
Indirect interference behavior
Identifying interfering behavior is not always as easy as you might think. Some parents maintain a hostile attitude toward another parent without violating the other parent’s rights. However, your child’s other parent may not typically influence your child against you or keep you from communicating with your child. This may take many forms, including:
- Refusing to allow the child to speak on the phone to the other parent.
- Refusing to allow the child to communicate with the other parent online or through messaging devices.
- Refusing to give the child gifts from the other parent.
- Speaking negatively about you in the presence of the child.
- Instructing the child to spy on you during your custody or visitation time.
If you experience these behaviors or behavior you believe is significantly similar, you may have grounds to enforce your parental rights through the court.
Protecting your rights begins today
The time that you get to spend with your child is valuable in a way that nothing else holds value. As a parent, you have the right to spend time with your child without losing relationship quality because of their other parent’s behavior. You can begin to protect your rights and your time with you child today by building a strong legal strategy. The sooner you begin building your strategy, the more time that you have with the child that you love, without unnecessary complications.
