Protecting Your Right to Maintain a Meaningful Relationship With Your Child

When parents separate or divorce, determining where a child will live is only part of the equation. Parents must also decide when the child will spend time with each parent and how that schedule will work in everyday life.

These arrangements are commonly referred to as visitation, parenting time or access, depending on the jurisdiction.

At The Law Offices of Jeffrey N. Markowicz, I represent parents in visitation and parenting time matters throughout New York, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

Whether you are seeking an initial parenting schedule, trying to enforce an existing visitation order, requesting a modification, facing restrictions on your parenting time or involved in a high-conflict dispute, I can help you understand your rights and develop a strategy focused on preserving your relationship with your child.

With more than 25 years of legal experience and an extensive litigation background, I handle both negotiated and contested family law matters. I work directly with clients to understand their family circumstances and pursue parenting arrangements that are practical, appropriate and focused on the child’s best interests.

Schedule a confidential consultation with me to discuss your visitation or parenting time matter.

What Is Visitation?

Visitation generally refers to the time a child spends with a parent who does not have primary physical custody.

Many courts and family law professionals now use the term parenting time instead of visitation because it more accurately reflects the ongoing parent-child relationship.

A parenting time arrangement can determine:

• Weekday visits
• Weekend parenting time
• Overnight visits
• Holidays
• Birthdays
• School vacations
• Summer schedules
• Transportation
• Pick-up and drop-off locations
• Telephone and video communication
• Domestic travel
• International travel

I believe a visitation schedule should provide enough detail to minimize confusion while remaining workable for the child and both parents.

Visitation vs. Child Custody

Custody and visitation are closely related, but they are not exactly the same issue.

Legal custody generally concerns who has authority to make major decisions about a child, such as decisions involving education and healthcare.

Physical custody generally concerns where the child lives.

Visitation or parenting time concerns when the child spends time with the other parent or another person who has legally recognized access.

For example, one parent may have primary physical custody while the other parent has substantial parenting time every week.

The appropriate arrangement depends on the circumstances of the family.

Learn more about Child Custody.

Creating a Parenting Time Schedule

There is no single visitation schedule that works for every family.

The right arrangement depends on factors such as:

• The child’s age
• School schedule
• Each parent’s work schedule
• Distance between the parents’ homes
• Childcare arrangements
• Extracurricular activities
• Medical needs
• Relationships with siblings
• History of each parent’s involvement
• Transportation
• The child’s developmental needs

A schedule for a preschool-aged child may look very different from one designed for a teenager.

I help parents develop parenting schedules that account for the realities of everyday family life rather than relying on a generic arrangement.

Common Parenting Time Schedules

Depending on the family, parenting arrangements can take many forms.

Examples may include:

Alternating Weekends

The child resides primarily with one parent and spends alternating weekends with the other parent.

Additional weekday or overnight parenting time may also be included.

Weekday Parenting Time

The non-primary parent may have one or more weekday visits or overnight periods in addition to weekend parenting time.

Shared Parenting Schedules

Some families divide parenting time more evenly between households.

These arrangements may work particularly well when parents live close to each other and can maintain consistent school and activity schedules.

Extended Summer Parenting Time

A parent may receive additional time during summer vacation, particularly when the parents live farther apart.

Long-Distance Parenting Plans

When parents live in different cities or states, a schedule may provide longer but less frequent parenting periods during school breaks, holidays and summer vacation.

My goal is to help create an arrangement that supports a continuing relationship between the child and both parents while remaining practical for the child’s life.

Holiday and Vacation Visitation

Holidays frequently become a source of disagreement if the parenting plan is not specific.

A detailed visitation agreement may address:

• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Hanukkah
• New Year’s
• Easter
• Passover
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• The child’s birthday
• Parents’ birthdays
• School breaks
• Religious holidays
• Summer vacations
• Family events

Parents may alternate holidays each year or divide particular holidays between them.

The agreement should also address when holiday schedules override the normal weekly schedule.

Clear terms can reduce recurring disputes and help families plan in advance.

Transportation and Child Exchanges

A parenting schedule should explain how children will move between households.

Issues may include:

• Which parent provides transportation
• Pick-up times
• Drop-off times
• Exchange locations
• School-based exchanges
• Responsibility for travel expenses
• Procedures for delays
• Long-distance transportation

In high-conflict situations, exchanges may need to occur in a neutral location or through another arrangement designed to reduce contact between the parents.

Specific exchange procedures can help minimize unnecessary arguments.

Supervised Visitation

In some cases, a court may determine that parenting time should occur under supervision.

Supervised visitation may be considered when concerns exist involving issues such as:

• Domestic violence
• Child abuse
• Substance abuse
• Mental health concerns
• A lengthy absence from the child’s life
• Safety concerns
• Other circumstances affecting the child

Supervision might be provided by an agreed-upon individual, an agency or another approved professional depending on the circumstances and jurisdiction.

Supervised visitation does not necessarily mean that the arrangement will continue permanently.

Depending on the case, a parent may later seek expanded or unsupervised parenting time when circumstances change.

I represent parents seeking supervised visitation arrangements as well as parents attempting to prevent unnecessary or inappropriate restrictions on their parenting time.

Therapeutic Supervised Visitation

Some cases may involve therapeutic supervised visitation.

This type of visitation generally involves a mental health professional who is present during parent-child contact and may help support or rebuild the relationship.

Therapeutic visitation may arise in cases involving:

• Long periods without contact
• Significant parent-child conflict
• Difficult reunification
• Emotional or behavioral concerns
• Other circumstances requiring professional support

Whether therapeutic supervision is appropriate depends heavily on the facts of the individual case.

Visitation and Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can substantially affect parenting time.

When a court determines that safety concerns exist, it may consider measures such as:

• Supervised visitation
• Neutral exchange locations
• Monitored exchanges
• Restrictions on contact
• Specific transportation requirements
• Other safety-related conditions

I have handled both domestic violence and child custody matters and understand how these issues can intersect.

When allegations of domestic violence are involved, the court must balance the parent-child relationship with the need to protect the child and other family members from harm.

Learn more about Domestic Violence.

If you or your child are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

What If the Other Parent Is Denying Visitation?

Follow an existing court order.

Problems can arise when one parent repeatedly:

• Refuses scheduled parenting time
• Cancels visits without justification
• Does not make the child available
• Changes the schedule unilaterally
• Prevents telephone or video communication
• Refuses holiday parenting time
• Interferes with exchanges
• Fails to return the child as required

If an existing court order is in place, document significant violations.

Depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances, a parent may be able to seek enforcement through the court.

I represent parents seeking enforcement of parenting time orders and can help determine the appropriate response to repeated interference.

Can I Withhold Visitation Because Child Support Has Not Been Paid?

Child support and parenting time are separate legal obligations.

A dispute over unpaid child support generally does not give a parent automatic authority to disregard an existing visitation or custody order.

Similarly, interference with parenting time does not ordinarily eliminate a parent’s obligation to comply with a child support order.

If either order is being violated, legal remedies may be available.

Parents should generally avoid taking matters into their own hands in ways that could violate an existing court order.

Learn more about Child Support.

Modifying a Visitation or Parenting Time Order

Parenting arrangements sometimes need to change.

A schedule that worked several years ago may no longer fit the child’s life.

Reasons a parent may seek modification include:

• A change in the child’s school schedule
• The child’s changing age and needs
• A parent’s new work schedule
• Relocation
• Increased or decreased parental involvement
• Transportation difficulties
• Significant conflict
• Safety concerns
• Changes in the child’s activities
• Other meaningful changes in circumstances

Legal requirements for modification vary by jurisdiction and the circumstances surrounding the existing order.

I represent both parents seeking to modify parenting time and parents opposing proposed changes.

Emergency Visitation Issues

Some disputes require immediate attention.

Emergency issues may involve:

• A parent refusing to return a child
• Threatened removal from the state
• Threatened international travel
• Domestic violence
• Abuse or neglect
• Substance abuse
• Serious safety concerns
• Violation of protective orders

The options available depend on the circumstances and which court has jurisdiction.

If you believe your child is facing immediate danger, contact emergency services and obtain legal advice as quickly as possible.

Visitation and Relocation

Relocation can significantly affect an existing parenting schedule.

A move across town may create transportation issues.

A move to another state may make the existing schedule impossible.

A proposed relocation may require reconsideration of:

• Weekend parenting time
• Holiday schedules
• Summer visitation
• Transportation
• Travel expenses
• School schedules
• Virtual communication
• Custody arrangements

Parents should obtain legal advice before making a move that could interfere with another parent’s court-ordered parenting time.

My experience practicing family law in New York, Washington, D.C., and Maryland can be particularly valuable when relocation creates issues involving multiple jurisdictions.

Long-Distance Parenting Time

Parents do not always live near each other.

When substantial distance separates households, parenting plans may need to focus on longer periods of parenting time rather than frequent short visits.

A long-distance schedule may include:

• Extended summer parenting time
• School vacations
• Alternating major holidays
• Long weekends
• Video calls
• Telephone communication
• Transportation arrangements
• Allocation of travel expenses

A carefully structured long-distance parenting plan can help preserve the parent-child relationship despite geographic distance.

Virtual Visitation and Communication

Technology can help parents remain connected with their children between in-person visits.

A parenting plan may address:

• Telephone calls
• FaceTime
• Video calls
• Messaging
• Other age-appropriate communication

Virtual communication should generally supplement meaningful in-person parenting time rather than replace it when regular in-person contact is appropriate.

For long-distance families, however, scheduled virtual communication can be an important part of maintaining a consistent relationship.

Grandparent and Third-Party Visitation

Visitation disputes do not always involve only two parents.

In certain circumstances and depending on the jurisdiction, grandparents, siblings or other nonparents may seek visitation or access to a child.

These cases involve legal standards that differ from ordinary disputes between parents.

Courts must also consider parents’ constitutional rights to make decisions about their children.

If you are a grandparent or another family member seeking visitation, or if someone other than a parent is seeking visitation with your child, I can evaluate the circumstances and explain the legal options available in the applicable jurisdiction.

Visitation Lawyer in New York

I have been licensed to practice law in New York since 2007 and represent parents in visitation and parenting time matters.

New York commonly uses the terms visitation and parenting time interchangeably.

When parents cannot agree, a judge may establish a visitation schedule based on the child’s best interests.

New York visitation cases may involve:

• Establishing parenting time
• Modifying visitation
• Enforcing visitation orders
• Supervised visitation
• Therapeutic visitation
• Holiday schedules
• Relocation
• Domestic violence
• Grandparent visitation

New York courts can also address custody and visitation in the same proceeding, although visitation petitions can be filed separately.

I help New York parents negotiate parenting schedules and represent clients when contested visitation issues require court intervention.

New York Office
1 Liberty Street
Suite 2327
New York, NY 10006

917-791-4157

Visitation Lawyer in Washington, D.C.

I have been licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia since 2001.

Under D.C. law, a child’s physical custody arrangement includes the child’s residence and visitation schedule.

Parenting plans may address issues including:

• Residence
• Visitation
• Holidays
• Birthdays
• Vacations
• Transportation
• Education
• Communication between parents and children
• Medical decisions
• Methods for resolving future disputes

The child’s best interests are the primary consideration in custody and visitation matters.

D.C. also provides procedures for supervised visitation when safety concerns arise, including court-referred supervised visitation and child exchanges in appropriate domestic relations and domestic violence cases.

I represent parents in both negotiated and contested parenting time matters throughout Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. Office
700 12th Street NW
Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005

202-972-2701

Visitation Lawyer in Maryland

I have been licensed to practice law in Maryland since 1999 and represent parents throughout Maryland in visitation and parenting time matters.

Maryland commonly addresses visitation as parenting time, access or physical custody.

Maryland parenting plans can establish when children spend time with each parent and how parents will handle major child-related responsibilities.

A parenting plan may address:

• Regular parenting schedules
• Holidays
• Vacations
• Transportation
• School schedules
• Communication
• Childcare
• Travel
• Other parenting responsibilities

If parents cannot agree, the court may determine the parenting arrangement based on the child’s best interests.

I assist Maryland parents with initial parenting plans, modifications, enforcement proceedings, supervised visitation and other parenting time disputes.

Visitation Across State Lines

Parenting time can become considerably more complicated when parents live in different states.

Questions may arise regarding:

• Which court has jurisdiction
• Which state’s order controls
• Whether an existing order can be modified
• Where the child primarily resides
• Relocation
• Enforcement of an out-of-state order
• Travel arrangements
• Transportation expenses

These issues can be especially relevant for families living in the Washington metropolitan area, where a parent may live in the District of Columbia while the other lives in Maryland.

My multijurisdictional practice provides valuable experience for families whose parenting disputes cross state lines.

I have been licensed in Maryland since 1999, Washington, D.C. since 2001 and New York since 2007.

Negotiating Visitation Without Going to Court

Not every parenting dispute needs a judge to decide it.

Parents may be able to resolve visitation through:

• Direct negotiation
• Attorney-assisted negotiation
• Mediation
• Parenting plans
• Settlement agreements

Negotiated arrangements can allow parents to create schedules that are more flexible and detailed than an order imposed after litigation.

They can also reduce conflict, which may benefit children who continue to have relationships with both parents.

I work toward negotiated solutions when they adequately protect my client’s parental rights and the child’s interests.

When reasonable agreement cannot be reached, I am prepared to litigate.

Preparing for a Visitation Case

If parenting time is disputed, keeping accurate information can be important.

Useful records may include:

• Existing custody and visitation orders
• Parenting calendars
• Records of completed visits
• Missed or denied parenting time
• Communications between parents
• School schedules
• Work schedules
• Travel records
• Relevant medical information
• Documentation concerning significant safety issues

Communications with the other parent should remain focused on the child whenever possible.

Avoid placing the child in the middle of the conflict or using the child to communicate disputes between parents.

Why Choose Me for a Visitation Matter?

More Than 25 Years of Legal Experience

I have practiced law since 1999 and have handled a wide range of divorce, custody, visitation, child support, domestic violence and other family law matters.

Licensed in Three Jurisdictions

I have been licensed in:

• Maryland since 1999
• Washington, D.C. since 2001
• New York since 2007

This multijurisdictional experience is particularly useful when parents live in different states or a parenting arrangement crosses jurisdictional boundaries.

Extensive Litigation Experience

My experience extends beyond family law to a broad range of civil and criminal litigation.

When visitation disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation, I am prepared to present evidence, examine witnesses and advocate for my client’s position in court.

Direct Attorney Involvement

Clients work directly with me.

I take the time to understand the history of the parent-child relationship, the existing parenting arrangement and the client’s concerns before developing a strategy.

Practical Parenting Solutions

The best parenting plan is one that works in real life.

I focus on creating clear, practical arrangements designed to minimize unnecessary conflict while preserving important parent-child relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visitation and Parenting Time

Is visitation the same as parenting time?

The terms are often used interchangeably. Many courts and attorneys increasingly use “parenting time” to describe when a child spends time with a parent without primary physical custody.

Is visitation the same as custody?

No. Custody generally addresses decision-making authority and where a child lives. Visitation or parenting time generally addresses when the child spends time with the other parent.

Can a parent be denied visitation?

Courts generally consider the child’s best interests when establishing parenting time. Courts may restrict or supervise visitation when circumstances raise serious concerns about the child’s safety or welfare.

Can visitation be supervised?

Yes. Courts may order supervised parenting time when appropriate. The supervision may involve an approved person, agency or professional depending on the circumstances.

Can a visitation schedule be changed?

Potentially. Courts may modify existing parenting arrangements when the applicable legal requirements are satisfied and a change is appropriate for the child.

What can I do if the other parent refuses my visitation?

If you have an existing court order, you may have enforcement options. Document significant violations and obtain legal advice rather than responding by violating other provisions of the order.

Can I stop visitation because the other parent does not pay child support?

Child support and visitation are generally treated as separate legal obligations. A support dispute does not normally permit a parent to disregard a valid parenting time order.

Can a parent move away and change my visitation?

Relocation can substantially affect parenting time and may require court involvement depending on the existing custody arrangement and jurisdiction. Speak with an attorney promptly if a proposed move could interfere with your relationship with your child.

Does parenting time have to include overnight visits?

Not necessarily. Parenting schedules depend on the child’s age, family circumstances, history and best interests.

Can parents create their own visitation schedule?

Yes. Parents can often negotiate their own parenting arrangements. A detailed written agreement can help avoid future misunderstandings.

Can grandparents obtain visitation?

In certain circumstances, grandparents or other relatives may be able to seek visitation, depending on the jurisdiction and facts. Different legal standards generally apply to nonparent visitation requests.

Do visitation disputes always go to trial?

No. Many parenting time disputes are resolved through negotiation, mediation or agreement. Court intervention may be required when the parents cannot resolve significant disagreements.

Do I handle visitation cases in New York, Washington, D.C. and Maryland?

Yes. I represent parents in visitation, parenting time, custody and other family law matters throughout all three jurisdictions.

Speak With Me About Your Visitation Matter

The time you spend with your child matters.

Whether you are trying to establish parenting time, modify an outdated schedule, enforce an existing order, address a relocation or respond to a request for supervised visitation, understanding your legal options can help you protect your relationship with your child.

At The Law Offices of Jeffrey N. Markowicz, I represent parents in visitation and parenting time matters throughout New York, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

I will work directly with you to understand your family circumstances, explain your options and develop a strategy designed to protect your parental rights while keeping your child’s best interests at the center of the case.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation

Washington, D.C. & Maryland: 202-972-2701

New York: 917-791-4157

Contact the Law Offices of Jeffrey N. Markowicz today to discuss your rights and learn more about your legal options.