Moose Jaw Divorce Lawyer

Reasons to Deny Child Visitation in Canada Featured Image

What are the Reasons to Deny Child Visitation in Canada?

There are many reasons to deny child visitation in Canada, But first, you need to understand what child visitation denial is clearly.

Generally, denial of access commonly occurs in high-conflict separations. While there is no solid evidence that it cannot happen in low-conflict separations, it is more likely to occur in highly contentious post-divorce situations.

Also, it is essential to understand unwarranted access denial. This restriction implies that the custodial parent can stop you from seeing your child without a court order.

That means—if a non-custodial parent poses a threat to the child and a custodial parent can see it clearly, they can stop you immediately with an unwarranted access denial. 

In such a scenario, the court may restrict your visitation rights later in collaboration with the custodial parent.

On the other hand, the custodial parent can directly ask the court to issue a ruling in favor of access denial providing valid reasons.

6 Common Reasons to Deny Child Visitation in Canada

As mentioned at the beginning, there are several common reasons to deny child visitation in Canada.

It is important to understand these reasons to grasp the factors that can lead to restricted or denied access to a child. 

1. Concerns for Child Safety and Neglect

One prevalent reason for denying child visitation in Canada is the genuine fear that the child may be subjected to kidnapping or neglect during the non-custodial parent’s visitation time.

If there are substantial concerns about the child’s well-being or safety, the custodial parent may seek limitations or outright denial of visitation.

2. Parental Interference

Another circumstance that may lead to denied visitation is when one parent intentionally withholds the child from the other parent as a means of control or in response to perceived wrongdoing.

It is crucial to note that withholding a child without valid reasons is generally disapproved by the court.

3. Abuse, Bribery, or Alienation of the Child

If there is credible evidence or allegations of physical or sexual abuse, bribery, or parental alienation by the non-custodial parent, visitation rights may be denied or restricted.

The court prioritises the safety and well-being of the child and takes decisive action when such instances arise.

4. Substance Abuse Problems

When the non-custodial parent has a substance abuse problem that risks the child’s safety or well-being, visitation rights may be denied or limited.

The court may require the parent to seek treatment or demonstrate their ability to provide a secure environment for the child before revisiting visitation arrangements.

5. Morality Concerns

Immoral behaviour or actions that may hurt the child’s well-being can be one of the reasons to deny child visitation.

This includes involvement in criminal activities, a history of domestic violence, or engaging in behaviours that may jeopardise the child’s overall welfare.

6. Failure to Provide a Secure Environment

Visitation may be denied if the non-custodial parent cannot provide a safe and secure environment for the child.

Factors such as unsuitable housing conditions, lack of stable employment or income, or failure to meet the child’s basic needs for food, shelter, and medical care can contribute to this decision.

What Happens If You Don’t Follow Court-Ordered Visitation?

If you fail to follow a court-ordered visitation schedule in Canada, there can be several potential consequences.

It’s important to note that the specific outcomes may vary depending on the province or territory and the case circumstances. 

1. Contempt of Court

Non-compliance with a court-ordered visitation schedule can be considered contempt of court.

This means you have violated a court order, which is a serious offence.

You may face legal penalties, such as fines, community service, or even imprisonment in extreme cases if found in contempt.

2. Modification of Visitation Orders

If you consistently fail to follow the court-ordered visitation schedule, the other parent can file a motion to modify the visitation orders.

The court will review the situation and may choose to modify the visitation arrangement based on the child’s best interests.

This could result in reduced visitation rights or supervised visitation for the non-compliant parent.

3. Make-Up Visitation

The court may order make-up visitation to compensate for missed time with the child. 

Make-up visitation allows the non-compliant parent to spend additional time with the child to make up for the missed visits.

4. Mediation or Counselling

Sometimes, the court may order mediation or counselling to help the parents resolve their conflicts and encourage compliance with the visitation schedule. Mediation aims to facilitate communication and find mutually agreeable solutions, while counselling can address underlying issues causing non-compliance.

5. Enforcement Actions

If other measures fail, the court can enforce visitation orders through various means.

This can include imposing fines, issuing warrants, suspending driver’s licences or passports, or taking more serious actions such as modifying custody arrangements.

When You Can’t Deny Child Visitation?

Denying child visitation should generally be avoided unless there are valid and legally recognized reasons to do so.

While specific circumstances may vary depending on the jurisdiction, here are some situations in which denying child visitation may not be appropriate:

1. Court-Ordered Visitation

If a court-ordered visitation schedule is in place, it is generally only advisable to allow visitation with proper legal justification.

Court orders should be followed unless significant concerns exist for the child’s safety or well-being.

2. Non-Compliance with Court Orders

If the other parent is not complying with the court-ordered visitation schedule, it does not give you automatic permission to deny visitation.

Instead, seek legal recourse by notifying your lawyer or petitioning the court to address the issue and enforce the visitation order.

3. Personal Conflicts or Disagreements

Differences or personal conflicts with the other parent are insufficient grounds to deny visitation.

The child’s best interests should remain the guiding principle in determining visitation arrangements.

4. Disagreements over Parenting Style

Disagreeing with the other parent’s parenting style or decisions does not typically justify denying visitation.

As long as the child’s well-being is not at risk, both parents have the right to spend time with their child according to the visitation order.

5. Inconvenience or Schedule Conflicts

Personal convenience or scheduling conflicts are generally not considered valid reasons to deny visitation.

 It is important to make reasonable efforts to adhere to the visitation schedule or seek modifications through the proper legal channels if necessary.

6. Temporary Unavailability

Temporary unavailability due to travel, work commitments, or personal reasons should be communicated and resolved through negotiation or by seeking temporary modifications to the visitation schedule rather than outright denial.

What Are the Consequences for Denying Visitation without a Valid Reason?

Denying visitation without a valid reason can have several potential consequences.

Once again, the specific outcomes may vary depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances of the case.

Some possible consequences for denying visitation without a valid reason are:

1. Court-Ordered Remedies

The other parent may seek legal recourse by filing a motion with the court to enforce the visitation order.

The court can take various actions to address the denial of visitation, including holding the non-compliant parent in contempt of court and imposing penalties.

2. Modification of Visitation Orders

If the denial of visitation becomes a recurring issue, the court may modify the visitation orders to protect the child’s best interests.

This could involve reducing the non-compliant parent’s visitation rights, requiring supervised visitation, or implementing other measures to enforce compliance.

3. Make-Up Visitation

The court may order make-up visitation to compensate for the missed time with the child. 

This allows the non-compliant parent additional visitation time to compensate for the denied visits.

4. Mediation or Counselling

To resolve conflicts and promote visitation compliance, the court may order the parents to participate in mediation or counselling.

These processes facilitate communication, address underlying issues, and find mutually agreeable solutions.

5. Change in Custody Arrangements

If the denial of visitation persists and is deemed detrimental to the child’s well-being, the court may consider modifying custody arrangements.

This could result in a change of primary custody, with the non-compliant parent having limited visitation or supervised visitation rights.

6. Legal Penalties

Denying visitation without valid reasons may lead to legal penalties, such as fines, community service, or even imprisonment in extreme cases.

These penalties are imposed to enforce compliance with court orders and protect the child’s rights.

Final Words

Denying child visitation in Canada should be approached only under valid and legally recognized reasons. Concerns for the child’s safety and well-being, such as the risk of kidnapping or neglect, parental interference, abuse or alienation, substance abuse problems, morality concerns, and failure to provide a secure environment, are common grounds for denying visitation.

If a court-ordered visitation schedule is in place, denying visitation without proper legal justification is generally not advisable. Non-compliance with court orders by either parent should be addressed through legal recourse rather than taking matters into one’s own hands. Personal conflicts, disagreements over parenting style, inconvenience, or temporary unavailability are generally invalid reasons to deny visitation.

The consequences for denying visitation without a valid reason can include court-ordered remedies, modification of visitation orders, make-up visitation, mediation or counselling, change in custody arrangements, and potential legal penalties. It is important to prioritise the child’s best interests and seek proper legal guidance when facing visitation disputes to ensure a fair and appropriate resolution.

FAQs

Get more information regarding child visitation from the following questions:

When Can You Deny Visitation to the Non-Custodial Parent?

Denying visitation to the non-custodial parent should be done only in exceptional circumstances with valid and legally recognized reasons. These reasons typically include concerns for the child's safety or well-being, such as cases involving abuse, neglect, or other significant risks to the child's welfare.

Can a Custodial Parent Deny Visitation?

Generally, a custodial parent does not have the right to deny visitation to the non-custodial parent without a valid reason or a court order permitting such action. Both parents have the right to spend time with their children, and denying visitation without cause may result in legal consequences.

What Are the Reasons to Deny Overnight Visitation?

Denying overnight visitation should also be approached cautiously and typically requires valid reasons. Some common reasons to deny overnight visitation include concerns about the child's safety, such as a history of abuse or neglect, substance abuse issues, or an unstable living environment that may not provide a suitable setting for the child during overnight stays.

What Are the Reasons to Deny Child Visitation?

Denying child visitation should be based on substantial reasons that are in the child's best interests. Valid reasons to deny child visitation may include cases involving abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), neglect, substance abuse problems, unresolved anger management issues, domestic violence, or situations where the child's well-being and safety are at risk.

What Are the Grounds for Denying Visitation?

The grounds for denying visitation typically concern the child's safety, well-being, or best interests. These may include substantiated allegations or evidence of abuse, neglect, a parent's serious substance abuse problems, domestic violence incidents, or situations where the child's physical or emotional health is at risk.

What Are the Reasons to Lose Custody of a Child?

The reasons for losing custody of a child can vary. Still, they generally revolve around factors that significantly impact the child's well-being and safety. Common reasons include abuse or neglect, substance abuse issues that affect parenting abilities, a pattern of endangering the child's welfare, chronic neglect of the child's basic needs, or a failure to provide a suitable and stable environment for the child's upbringing. The court will consider the child's best interests when deciding custody.

Scroll to Top