Visitation and Child Support as Separate Issues

Some parents assume that if they visit their children post-divorce, they will be obligated to pay child support. Others assume that if they are allowing their child to visit with their ex-spouse, that ex-spouse should be paying child support almost as compensation for the visitations. This is not the way that the courts see it, however. While child support and visitation frequently go hand in hand, this is not always the case. In fact, a parent is not guaranteed visitation if he or she pays child support, and a parent who visits the children does not necessarily need to pay child support in order to secure those visits.

The courts view both child support and visitation as different and independent obligations. A noncustodial father cannot stop paying child support to the custodial mother if visitation is denied, and a custodial mother has no right to deny visitation for the nonpayment of child support. In fact, withholding child support for a lack of visitation, or vice versa, are both criminal acts punishable by law. If you want more information about this then contact a San Fernando divorce lawyer at the firm right away. With the right attorney on your side, you will be able to get the assistance that you need to seek compensation.

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