If you’re dealing with repeated visitation denial, a consistent written record is essential before you can enforce your rights in court.
Before you go
- Get a certified copy of your order from the district clerk if you don’t have one, and have an attorney explain anything unclear.
- You generally don’t need to call ahead — just show up at the scheduled time.
- Bring your order, a witness, and your journal.
What counts as a denial
An actual denial happens when you physically show up at the agreed time and place and the child isn’t made available — not just being told in advance over the phone that it won’t happen (though that’s worth noting too). Log entries as soon as possible after each incident, while it’s fresh. For each one, record the date, time, what happened, and who witnessed it.
If things get tense
Stay calm, don’t argue, and disengage if needed. If there’s a pattern of conflict at exchanges, ask the court to designate a neutral, supervised exchange location — a police station lobby is often a reasonable starting point.