Using U.S. Supreme Court case of Bowen v. Gilliard, 483 U.S.587, 612-13, 107 S.Ct. 3008, 3023, 97 L.Ed.2d 485 (1987), It could be argued that there is a reciprocal obligation of support, only if a parent has the right to the care, custody and nurture of their child(ren). Without being given parental rights to one, there is no further obligation for one to pay child support.

The law requires the friend of the court to provide enforcement services regarding parenting time orders. If you believe the friend of the court is not trying to enforce the order, you may file a grievance. You may also file your own motion for enforcement to be heard before the judge assigned to your case. Check with your local court for the approiate forms to file a motion to be heard before the Judge.

The friend of the court enforces the written order of the court. If your court order does not provide for telephone calls, try to work it out with the other parent or pursue other methods of dispute resolution such as friend of the court mediation. If that is unsuccessful, you may file a motion with the court requesting additional parenting time through telephone access.

Parents must obey court orders, regardless of the child's desires. It is the parent's responsibility to promote a positive relationship between the child and the other parent. You may want to try the following options:


Work out a different arrangement with the other parent.


Seek individual counseling for you or your child or joint counseling with you and the other parent.


Contact the friend of the court and request mediation.


File a motion with the court asking for a change in your parenting time order.

If the other parent will not give the child his or her medication?


If the other parent is drunk or on drugs?


If I feel that my children are in jeopardy?

As a parent, you must always exercise your best judgment and act in your child's best interests. No one can give you advance permission to disobey a parenting time order. If you disobey the order, you could be found in contempt of court unless the judge finds later that you had an acceptable reason for not complying with the order.


You may have a good reason on a particular day, but you cannot deny parenting time repeatedly. You have a duty to obey the order. If the same problem arises often, you have a duty to take immediate steps to change the order to make certain that the parenting time provisions address the concerns or allow you to make other parenting time arrangements. And if you don’t do that, even if you have been reasonable, you may be found in contempt of court. For more information, see When Parenting Time Should Not Occur.