What Can I Do if My Ex Refuses Visitation in Illinois?

 Posted on May 31, 2025 in Child Custody

When you receive court-ordered visitation, known as parenting time in Illinois, with your child, the other parent is obligated to adhere to that schedule. Unless the court has approved a modification to the order, the original order still stands. As soon as your ex violates the parenting plan, you can take action, and an experienced Wheaton parental responsibilities attorney can help you understand the legal options available to you.

Steps To Take if Your Ex Denies Parenting Time in Illinois

The steps you take immediately after your co-parent violates the parental responsibilities order, also known as the child custody order, should include:

• Talk to your ex: To ensure there is not a simple misunderstanding, communicate with your ex, preferably in written form, to see if you can resolve the issue. If they ignore you or respond with a refusal, you have proof that they are knowingly violating the order.

• Document the violations: Maintain a detailed log of each time they refused to allow you your court-ordered parenting time. You can log dates, times, messages, and details about what happened each time.

• File a motion for contempt: Work with your attorney to file a motion with the court to hold them in contempt for violating the court order. The judge may respond by penalizing them with fines and granting you additional time to make up for the time you lost.

• Consider petitioning for a modification of the order: Illinois law allows for the modification of parenting time. If your ex repeatedly violated the order, that can indicate to the court that the current agreement does not work. The judge may change the order in response.

Most importantly, you should speak with an experienced family law attorney who can help you take action quickly so that you can get back to a normal routine with your children.

Common Ways a Co-Parent Denies Parenting Time

Your co-parent can deny parenting time in more ways than just refusing to allow you to see the kids. For example, not bringing them to mandatory counseling appointments and taking them to another state without your permission are possible violations of your parenting time order. Not telling you where they are, keeping them longer than they are allowed, or not showing up to visitation appointments warrants legal action.

Consequences of Denying Parenting Time in Illinois

In addition to facing contempt charges, fines, and other penalties, your co-parent could lose critical parental rights for denying you access to the children. The severity of their punishment will depend on factors related to your specific case, such as how often they deny your parenting time rights and how long they have been doing it. Your attorney will assess the details of your case to help you better understand how the court may handle it.

Contact a Wheaton, IL Parental Responsibilities Attorney Today

If your ex is denying parenting time that was given to you by court order, you should not tolerate it. Instead, talk to the experienced DuPage County, IL child custody lawyers at Andrew Cores Family Law Group, and allow us to fight aggressively to ensure you have the time with your child that you both need. You have legal parental rights that your co-parent does not have the authority to violate. Call 630-871-1002 to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.