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Parenting time interference is a serious family law issue

Not all couples who marry and have children end up living their lives together until death parts them. Rather, a number of Massachusetts families undergo transitions from shared households into separate households as the parents go through divorces and bring their unions to their ends. When parents separate or otherwise end their relationships it is often necessary for them to create a custodial parenting plan or to have a court draft an order addressing such issues for the benefit of their parents’ shared children.

Physical and legal custody can be shared or it may be granted solely to one parent. A parent who lacks physical custody of their child may still have visitation time with them and those moments of togetherness with their offspring may be precious to them. While it may seem as though a parent would have unaffected time with their child when visitation is scheduled it is not uncommon for parents in this situation to experience parenting time interference from their child’s other parent.

Parenting time interference involves actions that cut into the time a parent has with their child for visitation or actions that diminish the quality of time that a parent has with their kid. For example, a custodial parent who habitually drops their child off late for visitation with their non-custodial parent may be interfering in the relationship between the non-custodial parent and the child. Also, a custodial parent who speaks poorly of a non-custodial parent and who convinces a child that spending time with the other parent is unwise may engage in parenting time interference or the serious problem of parental alienation syndrome.

Parents who have custody of or visitation with their kids deserve to enjoy that time to its fullest. Instances of parenting time interference are damaging to kids as well as the grown-ups who love them. Legal steps may be taken to improve relations in families and to stop unwanted occurrences of parenting time interference.