5. Contact with Children

Q. When will the non-Resident parent be allowed Contact with the child(ren)?

A. Contact is not a “consolation prize” to the non-Resident parent. Contact is rarely denied by the Court, even to a “bad” parent. Contact can sometimes be granted under supervision.

Typical Contact Orders relate to:

1. alternate weekends,
2. alternate arrangements for Christmas Day,
3. school holidays,
4. birthdays,
5. Fathers’/Mothers’ Days,
6. other reasonable Contact.

Q. What if my child does not want to have contact?

A. Where a child adamantly states that he or she does not wish to see a parent, or if the child is being emotionally or psychologically disturbed by the contact, then contact may be denied by the Court. Before denying contact, the Court must be satisfied that the Resident parent is not influencing the child(ren). If a parent is particularly obstructive with contact, the Court may go so far as to grant Residence of the child(ren) to the other parent.

A Counsellor will often be appointed by the Court to prepare a report to assist in determining what are the best contact arrangements. Counselling is of particular use in learning to behave as a separated couple for the benefit of the child(ren).