Stafford, Virginia Visitation Lawyers

Supportive Visitation Attorneys Representing Clients in Stafford, VA

Even if you do not have primary physical or legal custody of your child, you still have rights that must be respected. As long as there is no conflict with the child's best interests, a parenting plan should allow you to spend meaningful time with your child. If you have any questions or concerns about your parental rights, reach out to a Stafford, VA visitation attorney today.

At Meyer & Bowden, PLLC, we know how important visitation can be for divorced parents. Our attorneys can represent you in negotiations with your co-parent, employing different strategies to resolve your issue without the need for active litigation.

Understanding Your Visitation Rights

Visitation is an essential component of maintaining a meaningful relationship between a parent and child after separation or divorce. In Virginia, the court recognizes that children benefit from regular contact with both parents unless there is a clear risk to the child's safety or well-being. Under state law, parents are entitled to reasonable visitation and may agree to a schedule that reflects their family's needs. If parents cannot reach an agreement, the court will craft a visitation schedule that serves the child's best interests, considering factors such as the child's age, school schedule, and special needs.

Types of visitation that the court may order include:

• Unsupervised visitation
• Supervised visitation
• Weekend and holiday schedules
• Midweek evening visits

Each form of visitation can be tailored to address concerns about safety, distance, or parental availability. The court may also set provisions for transport, exchange locations, and notice requirements to minimize conflict and ensure both parents know their responsibilities.

Modifying and Enforcing Visitation Schedules

Life circumstances change over time, and a visitation schedule that once worked may become impractical. Virginia law allows either parent to petition for modification if there has been a material change in circumstances since the original order. Common reasons for modification include relocation, changes in work schedules, or shifts in the child's educational or medical needs. To pursue a modification, you must file a motion in the court that issued the original visitation order, providing clear evidence of how the change affects your ability to exercise visitation or the child's welfare.

Enforcement remedies are available when a parent willfully violates a court-ordered schedule. The court may issue contempt sanctions, adjust visitation time to compensate the wronged parent, or order make-up visitation. In urgent cases, you may request that the other parent be held in contempt of court. Our experienced Stafford child visitation attorneys can guide you through the petition process, gather supporting evidence, and advocate for prompt relief.

Can Grandparents Seek Visitation in Virginia?

Grandparents may play a vital role in a child's life, offering additional emotional support, stability, and family continuity. In Virginia, grandparents do not have an automatic right to visitation. Instead, they must demonstrate that visitation serves the child's best interests. In some cases, the grandparent has the additional burden to demonstrate that denying visitation would hurt the child.

Petitioning for visitation as a grandparent can be more or less difficult depending on how willing the parents are to facilitate it. Even if one or both of the legal parents do not want to allow visitation, we can still help you file a petition with the courts.

Contact a Stafford Child Visitation Attorney Today

At Meyer & Bowden, PLLC, our legal team will prioritize your parental rights and your child's well-being. We will guide you through every step of the legal process, discussing how we can enforce or modify your visitation order, address relocation or grandparent visitation issues, and ensure meaningful time with your child under Virginia law. Call 703-722-8692 or contact our Stafford child visitation attorneys to set up a consultation.