Interim Child Visitation Guidelines
1. Within one week following the service of summons or the initial meeting with the counselor for mediation and conciliation, the parties involved shall establish an interim visitation plan.
2. The fundamental principles upheld by the courts emphasize the importance of ensuring that the child or children receive equal or substantial time with both parents, allowing them to experience love and affection from each parent, regardless of any conflicts between the parents.
3. The parties are encouraged to collaborate, and if necessary, the court may direct them to reach a mutual agreement on a visitation schedule, which should be formulated with the assistance of the Marriage Counselor within a maximum timeframe of 60 days. Until a final agreement regarding overnight visitation is established, an interim access arrangement must be implemented without delay.
4. In cases where the parties cannot reach a consensus on visitation, mediation should be pursued as the first alternative. It is essential to recognize that visitation serves primarily the best interests of the child. It should not be regarded as a privilege that either parent can exercise at their discretion, but rather as a responsibility that must be honored as a fundamental obligation. The custodial parent is expected to facilitate access for each child at unscheduled times upon request, provided that such access does not unreasonably disrupt any pre-existing plans for the child or the custodial parent.
REINTRODUCTION OF ABSENT PARENT
These guidelines operate under the assumption that both parents have consistently been involved in the children’s lives. In instances where a parent has had limited or no contact with their children and seeks to reintegrate into their lives, it is the responsibility of the parents to mutually agree on the method of reintroduction. Should the parents fail to reach an agreement, mediation will be the first course of action. If mediation does not yield a resolution, it will then fall to the Court to establish a schedule that facilitates the reintroduction process.
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