When your child says, “I’m not going,” you feel stuck between honoring their feelings and following a court order that carries real consequences. You need a clear answer, not vague reassurance, so here is what Ohio law expects from you and what matters when visits start falling apart.
Your child cannot cancel parenting time on their own
Your child cannot refuse court-ordered parenting time simply because they do not want to go. If a judge signed your custody or parenting schedule, you must make reasonable efforts to follow it until a court changes that order, even when your child resists.
You cannot treat a child’s refusal as a legal override. Likewise, you cannot quietly allow visits to stop without risking consequences such as contempt. When visits fail repeatedly, the court looks at what you did, if you encourage non-compliance.
Age may influence the outcome, but it does not control it
As your child gets older, their opinion carries more weight. If you have a teenager, you should expect a judge to listen more carefully to their reasons, especially if they express consistent, mature concerns rather than one emotional outburst.
However, you still must follow the existing order while you address the issue properly. Your teen’s preference alone does not erase parenting time. If you want the schedule to reflect their evolving needs, you must ask the court to modify it instead of letting the visits quietly disappear.
Safety concerns change the process, not the rules
If your child reports abuse, neglect or dangerous behavior, you should document what they tell you and seek legal relief right away. That could mean requesting supervised visits or a temporary change.
You protect yourself by acting quickly and formally, not by making a permanent unilateral decision that leaves you exposed to enforcement claims.
When refusals keep happening
If visits keep falling apart, pause and get clear direction before frustration turns into legal trouble. One timely consult can tell you whether you need enforcement, modification or mediation, helping you solve the problem now instead of explaining it to a judge later.