Parent refusing contact

[TQBD]

Can this happen? If the resident parent believes contact with the non resident parent to be in the child’s best interest - and takes it to court - are the courts likely to order contact and enforce it?

Do you mean to force the non resident parent to go to contact?

As in the non resident parent does not want contact with the child?

I doubt very much that the court would order that. If the parent is not interested in seeing the child then contact wouldn't be a positive experience for the child.

I can’t imagine how it would be in any child’s interests to spend time with someone who had to be forced to see them.

Legally I don’t see how it would be enforceable either.

No, you can’t force someone to see their child if they don’t want to. And even if you could, why would you want your child spending time with someone who doesn’t give a fuck and doesn’t want to be there?

Agree entirely, why would you want to send a child somewhere it’s not wanted - but given the situation, I don’t feel it’s helpful to either child that all contact is cut.

It’s a slightly difficult situation in that Child A and B were both resident with Parent A and had a child arrangement order in place (requested by Parent B) to facilitate EOW contact. This is has been in place for a number of years. Most recently, Child B expressed wishes to move to live with a parent B which was facilitated outside of the courts - with some legal advice and EOW contact happened with parent A. Child A is now expressing the same wishes and after weekend contact has refused to return to parent A.

Parent A is now refusing contact with either child.

It does sound very complicated. But no one can make parent B have contact with the children.

How old are the children?

Parent A sounds like they need to grow up, but still, legally you can’t force them to see their child. As upsetting as it is for the children there’s really nothing you can do.

Agree it’s only the children being hurt and yes, it’s horribly complicated with lots of lies being thrown around.

Children are both high school age.