[toejams]

I am the proud mother of a very mature 13 yr old. She hasn't seen her bio dad since she was maybe 4, and before that doesn't remember him at all since seeing him was very sporadic. There is a visitation plan that simply required he contact me 24 hrs in advance of him wanting to visit. This happened once, about 7 yrs ago but then he was busy and never called back. I'm not hiding out and am very easy to locate. I have recently been accused by his family of kidnapping my daughter, however no one has ever filed anything with the court. If he wants an updated visitation plan can't he file one? If he feels cheated in anyway can't he file with the court? He goes there a few times a year for failing to pay his child support. Now that he is 10,000 dollars in arrears, his girlfriend is showing interest in meeting my daughter, but in my opinion if I don't hear from him it doesn't count. Anyway, she knows he exists, and I have asked her in the past if she'd like me to try to contact him but she's really not interested. She wants my husband to adopt her. We live in Oregon. I don't feel I could force her to meet him at this age.

[JudyKayTee]

Support and custody/visitatation are unrelated - you can fail to pay support and still have visitation.

The visitation plan is in place (if it's Court ordered) until another plan takes its place. You could request a change or he could request a change.

If he goes to Court and argues that you have unduly influenced your daughter I think the Court could order a slow reacquaintance with her father.

Your husband, of course, can't adopt her without the birth father's consent.

Is he paying child support? If not, have you gone back to Court to hold him in contempt?

I'm in NY and it is not uncommon for the Court to appoint someone to act in the interest of your daughter (almost always an Attorney) to determine what is in her best interest.

You obviously can't drag her out of the house to meet her father. Why is she not interested?

[AK lawyer]

... I have asked her in the past if she'd like me to try to contact him but she's really not interested. ...

... You obviously can't drag her out of the house to meet her father. Why is she not interested?

I don't read OP's post as saying the daughter absolutely refuses. If, hypothetically, the father gives notice according to the parenting plan that he wishes to see his daughter, OP should firmly tell, not ask, the daughter that she will meet with her father.

[JudyKayTee]

I went by the title of the post - can the Court FORCE the daughter.

I agree that the text isn't quite in agreement with the title, the title being more forceful.