D.P. asks from Venus, TX on May 26, 2010
Legal Advice - Venus,TX
if there is a court order for child support from the AG's office and we are not receiving the support at this time, if we are able to start receiving it, would we be required or obligated to allow the parent visitation? she has not seen them in over 3 years, they are 3 1/2 and 5.
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A.I. answers from Tucson on May 26, 2010
You unfortunately cannot deny visitation due to non payment of child support in the state of tx..they are 2 different things..sorry!
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M.S. answers from Dallas on May 27, 2010
frm what i've been told child support & visitations have nothing to do w/ each other. If child support hasnt been paid it doesnt matter if there is a court order for visitation. you must still allow parent their visitations. i know that really bites!
1 mom found this helpful
A.I. answers from Tucson on May 26, 2010
You unfortunately cannot deny visitation due to non payment of child support in the state of tx..they are 2 different things..sorry!
1 mom found this helpful
A.G. answers from Boston on May 26, 2010
child support and visitation have nothing to do with each other.
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V.W. answers from Jacksonville on May 26, 2010
Are there court orders addressing this issue already in place? Then you must follow the orders that exist. Whether the absent parent pays support (either now, last year, or in the future) is completely irrelevant to their visitation rights. They are two separate issues. If you fail to allow ordered visitation, then you will be in contempt of court. Same as the other party may be found in contempt for failure to pay ordered child support. You can both be in contempt at the same time for different things. One does NOT negate the other.
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S.B. answers from Redding on May 26, 2010
Unfortunately, paying child support, or not, has nothing to do with visitation rights.
Not paying support might make a parent look bad in the eyes of the court, but visitation is never based on a parent's ability to pay.
If you need to try to change the visitation orders based on the length of time the parent has had no contact, that's a separate issue.
Best wishes.
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D.C. answers from Dallas on May 27, 2010
I am not a lawyer, but as far as I understand it, that is two separate things. Even if the parent is not paying child support they should be allowed visitation with the child. If the parent is paying child support they should be allowed visitation with the child. The two are not mutually exclusive. Unless, there is an order restricting the stopping the visitation. If there is not, you could be in violation of a court order. You really want to check with a lawyer or call the AG's office. I would hate for you to get in any kind of trouble by the look of keeping a child from the non-custodial parent, even though the non-custodial parent may have chosen not to see the children. These are very sticky issues....I'm sorry you are having to deal with it.
C.T. answers from Dallas on May 27, 2010
non-payment of child support is not a reason to deny visitation. I asked my attorney the same question and that was his answer to me. He suggested I call the AG's office and they can begin taking action against the person.
T.T. answers from Dallas on May 27, 2010
In the past, if you go one full year with no contact, you can have parental rights revoked...but you'll have to actually talk to an attorney about it.
The AG's office is only there to make sure he pays.
Good luck to you.
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