Q: At what age and under what authority are children allowed to decide whether or not to go on a scheduled visitation?
2 different police officers from 2 different jurisdictions on 2 separate occasions informed our 17 y/o child they were old enough to make this decision. Pls advise. Thank you.
A: No child has the authority to decide whether or not to go for visitation. It is possible for you, as the parent, to be held in contempt for the child failing to go with the other parent for visitation. You want the police officer to write in his/her report that the child refused to go after you encouraged the child to go on the visitation. Police reports are not admissible as evidence but they make it easier for you to subpoena the officer to testify.
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