What If One Parent Constantly Interferes with Parenting Time?

Your parenting time is more than a scheduled visit on a calendar. It is your legal right to remain present in your child’s life after divorce, to show up for the milestones, the ordinary moments, and everything in between. When the other parent starts blocking, canceling, or undermining that time, the emotional toll can be significant. Frustration builds. Stress follows. And many parents are left wondering what they can actually do about it.

The good news is that Michigan law takes interference with parenting time seriously, and you have real options. At Van Den Heuvel Law Office, we help parents resolve these disputes as efficiently as possible, protecting both their rights and their children’s well-being.

If one parent constantly interferes with your parenting time, take the following precautions:

• Document everything. Keep a detailed log of every missed exchange, late drop-off, and refused visit.
• Gather evidence. Save text messages, emails, and voicemails in their original form.
• File a parenting time complaint with the Friend of the Court (FOC) if violations continue.
• Seek a court order modification if interference becomes a repeated pattern.
• Avoid retaliation. Do not withhold child support or adjust the schedule on your own.

What Counts as Parenting Time Interference Under Michigan Law?

Not every missed visit constitutes legal interference. Legitimate emergencies do happen. However, when a parent repeatedly ignores the court-ordered schedule without justification, that behavior crosses a legal line.

Under Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 722.27a, both parents must comply with the parenting time arrangement unless a court modifies it. Common examples of parenting time interference include:

• Refusing to exchange the child at the agreed-upon time or location
• Canceling visits repeatedly without legitimate cause
• Coaching the child to resist or refuse visits
• Interfering with scheduled phone or video calls
• Moving the child without notice or court permission

Courts distinguish between isolated disruptions and deliberate patterns of interference. When violations appear intentional and repeated, judges are prepared to act.

How Do You Prove Parenting Time Interference in Court?

Proof is everything. Courts rely on evidence, and a well-documented record can make the difference between a judge taking action and dismissing the complaint as a misunderstanding.

Start keeping a detailed log right away. Record the date, time, and description of every incident. Note who was present, what was said, and what outcome resulted. Beyond that:

• Save screenshots of text messages and emails in their original format.
• Retain voicemails and call logs showing refused or ignored communication.
• Write down notes from conversations as soon as they happen.
• Collect witness statements from individuals who observed the interference.

Stay professional in your documentation. Judges respond well to organized, factual records and tend to view emotional or retaliatory conduct unfavorably. The goal is to demonstrate a clear pattern of behavior, not just a single bad day.

What Sanctions Can the Court Impose for Parenting Time Violations?

When you file a parenting time complaint with the Friend of the Court, the FOC will investigate, request documentation from both parties, and may schedule a meeting or issue a written recommendation. If the court confirms that violations occurred, it has several remedies available, including:

• Ordering make-up parenting time
• Imposing fines
• Requiring counseling or parenting education programs
• Modifying how exchanges take place
• Changing the parenting time schedule itself

Under MCL 552.641, courts can apply additional remedies when a parent intentionally interferes with court-ordered parenting time. In serious or repeated cases, a judge may also hold the interfering parent in contempt, which can carry consequences as severe as jail time.

Can You Modify a Parenting Time Order Due to Repeated Interference?

Repeated interference can serve as grounds to request a modification of the existing parenting time order. Courts consider modification when a parent’s ongoing conduct disrupts the child’s stability or reflects an unwillingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent.

Michigan courts make all custody and parenting time decisions based on the best interests of the child, as outlined in MCL 722.23. A parent who repeatedly violates court orders signals to the court that the current arrangement is not working. Judges take that seriously.

If FOC involvement does not resolve the problem, filing a motion directly with the court may be the appropriate next step. A judge can hear evidence, question both parents, and issue directives tailored to the specific situation.

How Should You Document Communication to Protect Your Parenting Rights?

Good communication documentation serves two purposes: it protects you legally and keeps the focus on facts rather than emotions. Keep all communication with the other parent in writing whenever possible. Text messages and emails create a timestamped record that is far harder to dispute than a verbal conversation.

Avoid emotional language in your messages. Keep your communication brief, factual, and focused on parenting logistics. If exchanges become hostile, consider using a co-parenting communication platform designed to keep interactions structured and on record.

Store everything. Even messages that seem minor at the time can establish a pattern of behavior that becomes relevant later.

Protect Your Relationship with Your Child

Parenting time interference does not fix itself. The longer it goes unaddressed, the more difficult it becomes to repair. At Van Den Heuvel Law Office, we work with parents throughout Michigan to document violations, file complaints, and pursue the legal remedies that courts can offer.

Your relationship with your child matters. Contact our firm for a consultation to learn about the options available to you.