[ritapaddon]

My son has just had contact with his daughter aged 14 for the first time in 12 years. Her mother has now taken her phone (which my son bought) and is refusing all contact. My grandaughter is devastated and so is my son. Where do they stand in the eyes of the law?

[cdad]

They stand a long way apart in the eyes of the law until something changes.

What is the current status of the father daughter as far as visitation and child support etc?

[Fr_Chuck]

Is there a court order ? Is there a child support order ?

He will need to go to court to get a court order to visit if he does not have one, If he is behind on child support he needs to start making efforts and plans to catch up also. While visits are not connected to child support, going to court will bring up that issue also.

[cbass]

At 14 the child should have some say. If there is not a court order agenst it then he may go to Department of family services and file for visitation. Many things happen and time passes, the child wants to try to have a relationship and so dose the dad and that's a good thing. Life is to short to worrie about the past if the future is open. I would advise taking it slow and use the legal system to keep you all an the right street

[ScottGem]

This is a legal issue so I've moved it from the Children forum.

The child can't decide anything here, only a court can issue an order for visitation. So the question is whether any court orders have been issued. There is also a question about why 12 years has gone by?

If there is no standing court order providing visitation or contact, then the mother has the right to control access. If there is a court order and the mother is defying it, then your son has to go to the court with jurisdiction and petition for a contempt citation. If there is no court order, then he needs to go to the court and apply for visitation. At that point the daughter's preference will be listened to.