At what age can a child refuse to see a parent in Missouri?

Asked by: Levi Wolff  |  Last update: February 17, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (70 votes)

If the question is “when can a child legally refuse visitation?”, the short answer is “never.” Missouri law does not provide a procedure for a child to decline parenting time. That said, situations may occur when it would not be in a child's best interests to have visitation with a parent.

What if my child doesn't want to visit his father?

If a child expresses a desire not to see their father, it is generally recommended to address the situation through the legal system. Parents may need to go back to court to seek modifications to the existing custody arrangement, presenting evidence and arguments to support any changes.

What age can a child decide not to see a parent in us?

At age 18 in all of the United States, a child can decide not to visit the other parent without consequence to themselves or the favored parent. Children who are considered legal adults (age 18 in most states) may always refuse to spend time with a parent.

What to do if your ex won't let you see your child?

Court Enforcement

If your co-parent is still unwilling to work with you to reach an agreement and is refusing your visitation rights, it may be time to turn to the court system for legal help to enforce the visitation order.

Can a guardian deny visitation in Missouri?

The guardian must seek a court order to restrict visitation, with limited exceptions.

What Age Can A Child [Refuse Visitation] - Michigan Lawyers - ChooseGoldman.com

45 related questions found

At what age can a child choose not to see a parent in Missouri?

If the question is “when can a child legally refuse visitation?”, the short answer is “never.” Missouri law does not provide a procedure for a child to decline parenting time. That said, situations may occur when it would not be in a child's best interests to have visitation with a parent.

How old does a child have to be to decide which parent?

When Can A Child Decide Which Parent To Live With In California? In California, a child's preference in custody matters is not the only factor considered by the court, but children aged 14 and above can express their parental preference to aid in determining custody.

Can I call the police if my child refuses to come home?

Involve Law Enforcement

After contemplating the situation and determining that there exists no valid reason for the teen to defy an existing order of the court regarding custody and parenting time, you may want to consider contacting the police or sheriff to escort your teenaged child back home.

What if my child refuses to see her father?

You can talk to your child to try and ascertain why they do not want to see their parent and see if there are any arrangements that could be made to make spending time with that parent easier. Family mediation may be helpful, where a mediator will work with both parents to try and find a way forward.

Can I call the police if my ex won't let me see my child in the UK?

In such cases the Police or Social Services have additional powers where there is a real danger to the child. If this is the case, you should inform the Police and Social Services immediately and seek urgent legal advice from a Solicitor.

Can a 15 year old decide where they want to live?

Ultimately, the California Family Code dictates that children cannot choose where to live until they are 18 years old. Each case is different, and the judge will decide how much weight to give to the child's preference using broad discretion.

How do you deal with a child that doesn't want to see you?

Allow your child to ask for a change of times and days when they see you and help them to feel comfortable doing this. If what they're asking for isn't possible, then explain why and work together to find alternative solutions. Remember to listen to your child's point of view.

At what age can children make decisions on their own?

Prior research establishes that children's involvement in decisions (either deciding with parents or deciding on their own) increases over ages nine to 13 (Yee and Flanagan 1985), while decision autonomy (deciding without parental input) increases over ages 12–17 (Dornbusch et al.

What is the new custody law in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, parents have the option of sharing 50/50 physical custody or designating one parent as the primary physical custodian while allowing the noncustodial parent significant parenting time. Regarding legal custody, both parents will have partial legal custody regardless of the physical custody schedule.

At what age can a child refuse visitation in California?

When Can a Child Refuse Visitation in California? As in most other states, children in California aren't allowed to refuse to visit a parent under existing visitation orders until they reach adulthood (18 years of age) or otherwise become legally emancipated.

What are the new child custody laws in Arkansas?

In 2021, Arkansas enacted a law that made joint custody the default option for all new child custody orders. Joint custody means the approximate and reasonable equal division of time with the child by both parents.

What do I do if my child doesn't want to see his dad?

It's important not to dismiss your child when they don't want to see their other parent. Have a conversation and listen to their reasons to validate what they're feeling. Sometimes, a child wants to feel heard. By listening, you could improve their outlook on shared parenting time.

What if a child refuses to go with father?

In a situation where a child is refusing to see one parent without justification, there may be no basis for modifying the current parenting schedule. However, a complaint for modification may still be the appropriate vehicle for seeking other remedial action, such as family or reunification therapy.

What is parental alienation?

Parental alienation is a strategy whereby one parent intentionally displays to the child unjustified negativity aimed at the other parent. The purpose of this strategy is to damage the child's relationship with the other parent and to turn the child's emotions against that other parent.

What are the rights of a 14-year-old?

Your parents are your guardians until you reach the age of majority at 18 and therefore make all of the major decisions for you. Before 18, there are decisions that you are allowed to make on your own on a case-by-case basis. You are allowed to make certain medical decisions on your own by the age of 14, for example.

When should you call the police on your own child?

If you ever feel unsafe or physically at risk, or if you ever feel like your loved one is in imminent danger of harming themselves, you should call the police.

What to do when your 15 year old runs away?

If you suspect your child has run away or is missing due to foul play, call your local police department immediately. Police department procedures may vary, but you can request that they enter your child's information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing persons file.

At what age can a child refuse to see a parent in Indiana?

In Indiana, a child's wishes regarding custody are not controlling until the child is at least 14 years old, to help minimize any undue influence from a parent. Nevertheless, the preference of a child younger than 14 won't be discounted entirely.

Who wins most child custody cases?

It is true that mothers typically HAVE custody of their children, but that's mostly because the men take off. Statistically, in the US, when a man asks for shared custody, he gets it, and in cases where men go to court to get full custody, they get it a majority of the time.

At what age can a child speak in court in California?

(2) If the child indicating an interest in addressing the court is 14 years old or older, the judicial officer must hear from that child unless the court makes a finding that addressing the court is not in the child's best interest and states the reasons on the record.