If you or anyone you know has gone through a child custody battle, you know just how difficult it can be for parents to remain objective and fair when it comes to retaining parental rights and custody of a child. In some cases, parents may find themselves so at odds during the divorce process that courts hand down a fixed visitation schedule to a parent. In almost all cases, this order applies to the parent who does not receive primary custody.
Fixed visitation is a custody order that outlines specific times and even places where a parent may spend time with their child. Sometimes this is put in place for the benefit of the non-custodial parent, so that they have guaranteed time with their child, even if other aspects of their life are turbulent or if the other parent is motivated to keep them away from the child.
Fixed visitation may also benefit the child in a custody conflict. By establishing specific, regular times and places where the child can spend time with their parent, the fixed visitation structure provides stability and dependability for the child, even while other parts of their life may seem completely unpredictable and hectic.
If you find yourself facing the prospect of fixed visitation, it is important to understand exactly how it may affect your obligations to your child, as well as the impact it may have on your strained relationship with the child’s other parent. While you may not receive all the custody time that you hope for, you can use fixed visitation as a dependable baseline of interaction and relationship time, keeping your rights as a parent protected while you work to give the child you love the best life you can.