Philadelphia, PA asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New Jersey

Q: Have PA custody agreement and 13yr, 10mo old child no longer wants to visit with 1 parent for numerous reasons. Options?

PA custody agreement since 2010. Both parents now residing in NJ. Almost 14 yr old child has expressed numerous times in recent months that he no longer wants to have visits with 1 parent; citing numerous reasons such as parent degrades him, doesn't let him go outside, yells at him often, hits him, fears that the parent will get angry with him when he says or does anything, hasn't taken him to scheduled extra-curricular activities, not allowed to visit with friends while in other parent's care, asks child to lie to the other parent about things that have taken place, required to babysit 6 yr old sister and gets angry when other parent wants to pick child up as scheduled according to custody agreement, and numerous other things. Child has told primary parent that he has wanted to run away from other parent's home and that he cries often when he's there. Says he gets anxious and sad just thinking about having to go to the other parent's home. Parental communication is also an issue.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Bari Weinberger
Bari Weinberger
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Parsippany, NJ
  • Licensed in New Jersey

A: I suggest you speak with a Pennsylvania family law attorney, since the order for custody/parenting time is out of PA. Since the family is now in New Jersey, you may be able to have jurisdiction changed, but it depends on the exact language of the custody agreement.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.