At R & S Law Group, LLP, we spend a lot of time helping our clients through a variety of custody issues. Whether they’re looking to establish a custody plan, want to modify an existing plan, or are dealing with an ex who refuses to follow through on their end of the obligations, we strive to empower them with the information they need and represent them during all stages of their legal proceedings.

For this post, we thought it’d be useful to go over how custody order violations work in CA. In addition to defining what a custody order violation is, we’re also looking at the consequences parents can expect to face when they choose to skirt their custody obligations in CA.

What is a Custody Order Violation?

A custody order violation refers to actions where a parent fails to uphold his or her end of the custody agreement. This can include not letting the other parent see the child during his/her appointed time, failing to meet the other parent to hand the child over, being late or absent during scheduled visitation periods, and more. 

Moving or relocating with children to another state is also considered a custody order violation, as a parent simply can’t pick up and leave without checking in with the courts or the other parent. Depending on the circumstances, this can also be considered kidnapping. 

What are the Penalties Associated with Custody Order Violations?

Parents who violate custody orders can face an array of penalties and consequences in CA, including loss of custody or visitation privileges. Since custody violations constitute directly disobeying court orders, the parent could be found to be in contempt of court. Custody violations often lead to additional court hearings, which carry their own associated fees and costs that are pushed onto the guilty parent. 

With serious circumstances such as allegations of kidnapping, a parent could even face criminal charges in CA. Needless to say, custody violations are not something that should be taken lightly. 

Talk to Our Skilled Family Law Attorneys Today

If you’re dealing with an uncooperative ex, and want the assistance of a qualified family law attorney, remember that we at R & S Law Group, LLP are here to help. Give us a call at PHONE to learn more about how we can help you ensure custody orders are enforced, and to ask us about any other matters involving family law in CA.