18 yrs old and visitation?

[Sherry]

Our son Chris is now 18 yrs old and we still have him see his mom every Wednesday and every other weekend ( or more ) for visitation. We know CS is till he graduates College, but is visitation something that has to be forced still? His sister is only 16 and per the law as we know it, if she refuses or trys to go home, they can call the police and force her to stay etc... But now that Chris is 18, and considered an adult, can she force him to visit or vice versa? I have looked online etc and cannot find it.

[Melissa]

wow.... I think that once he hits 18 its really his choice. I don't think he can be forced to go see anyone.

[Sherry]

Just received msg from a website I posted on regarding this.


re: 18 yrs old and visitiation
By: gemini47 - Lawyer
Date: 12/14/2005 4:33:48 PM State: CA

The visitation order is between the parents. The child, while the subject of it, is not a party to it. Once they are legally an adult, the right of the custodial parent to control who they see and don't see ceases. Support and visitation are two different things. Paying doesn't entitle one to visitation and not paying doesn't prevent visitation.

[Melissa]

good to know! My niece will be 18 in a few months! :woa: (how in the hell did that happen!)

Anyway, she has refused to go see her father on occasion and my sister's response is: "There's no judge in this country that is going to force any kid older than 16 to go visit someone they don't want to." And she's right. Even though the child doesn't have the final say, they do get a say.