Parenting time interference in North Carolina happens when one parent disrupts or blocks the other parent’s court-ordered time with a child. This can include refusing exchanges, arriving late, cancelling visits, or limiting communication.
Under child custody law, North Carolina allows the affected parent to ask the court for enforcement, makeup time, or penalties for violations. You can review custody and visitation rules in the North Carolina General Statutes.
If the other parent is preventing your visits or making co-parenting difficult, a North Carolina Child Custody lawyer can help you understand your rights and take action. Martine Law provides local guidance for custody disputes throughout North Carolina.
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How Parenting Time Interference Works Under North Carolina Law
Once a custody order is entered by a judge, both parents are required to follow the terms exactly as written. North Carolina treats court orders as legally binding instructions. When a parent refuses to follow them, the court may view it as a violation.
Parenting time interference can look different from one situation to another. It may include:
- Refusing to allow scheduled visits
- Not showing up for exchanges
- Constantly arriving late or cancelling at the last minute
- Blocking phone calls, texts, or video chats
- Planning activities during the other parent’s scheduled time
- Creating conflict that prevents the exchange from happening
- Encouraging a child to refuse time with the other parent
Even small disruptions can become a pattern that affects your relationship with your child. Courts in North Carolina pay close attention to whether both parents are supporting the child’s relationship with the other parent. Interference can show the opposite.
If you want to understand how custody enforcement works, the North Carolina General Statutes provide a clear breakdown.
What You Can Do If The Other Parent is Interfering With Your Parenting Time
If you believe the other parent is interfering, you do not have to wait for things to get worse. North Carolina gives you several options to protect your time and enforce your order.
Here are steps that help strengthen your case:
- Document every missed visit or late exchange
- Save texts, emails, call logs and screenshots
- Keep a written record of dates, times, and what happened
- Stay calm during communication
- Follow your custody order fully
Once you have evidence of the interference, you can take legal action. A Parenting Time Attorney in North Carolina can help you decide what fits your situation best.
Available Legal Steps Include:
Filing a motion for contempt
If the court finds the other parent is willfully violating the order, the judge can issue penalties.
Requesting makeup parenting time
Courts sometimes award additional time to compensate for lost visits.
Requesting a modification of custody
If the interference is ongoing and harmful to your child, you may be able to ask for changes to the schedule.
If you want help gathering evidence or understanding which legal step makes sense, you can reach out to Martine Law.
Penalties for parenting time interference in North Carolina
Courts do not overlook repeated or intentional interference. A judge may order:
- Fines
- Makeup time
- Counselling or parenting classes
- Changes to the custody schedule
- Court-supervised exchanges
- Contempt penalties
- In serious cases, jail time
The purpose is not to punish parents unnecessarily. It is to make sure the child’s time with both parents is protected and that court orders are respected.
When to Involve a North Carolina Child Custody Lawyer
It can be tempting to wait and see if the problem improves, but repeated interference often gets worse over time. Speaking with a lawyer early can help protect your rights and prevent long-term problems.
A lawyer can:
- Explain your rights under North Carolina custody law
- Review your court order
- Help organize your evidence
- Communicate with the other parent’s attorney
- File motions when needed
- Represent you in court
- Protect your relationship with your child
At Martine Law, our team blends legal experience with consistent communication so you never feel left in the dark. You will have access to attorneys who know North Carolina law and support staff who are available at all hours to answer your questions.
What Helps Your Case When Interference Is Happening
Judges want to see parents acting in the child’s best interest. You can strengthen your case by:
- Staying consistent with your parenting time
- Keeping communication respectful
- Following every part of your court order
- Documenting everything clearly
- Seeking help before the problem grows
If parenting time interference is affecting your life, you deserve someone who will help you move forward with confidence. At Martine Law, a family law attorney is here to support you with clarity, honesty, and strong advocacy.
Schedule a consultation today with our team or call +1 (704) 842 3411.