Enforcing Visitation Orders in Alabama: What to Do When the Other Parent Won’t Comply

By Ryan & Rouse | Family Law & Personal Injury Attorneys | 256-801-1000

You’ve gone to court. You have a signed visitation order. But now the other parent isn’t following it. Maybe they’re refusing to exchange the child, constantly canceling your scheduled time, or blocking communication altogether. So what can you do?

At Ryan & Rouse, we help parents in Alabama enforce their visitation rights and hold the other parent accountable — all while protecting the child’s best interests.

Your Visitation Order Is Legally Binding

In Alabama, a court-ordered visitation schedule is not optional. If one parent willfully interferes with the other parent’s time — without a valid legal reason — they can be held in contempt of court.

Common violations include:

• Refusing to allow visitation without cause
• Failing to drop off or pick up the child as scheduled
• Withholding the child until conditions are met (like child support being paid)
• Turning the child against the other parent (parental alienation)

Unless there is a real and immediate concern for the child’s safety, a parent may not unilaterally change or deny visitation.

What Are Your Options for Enforcement?

If the other parent is interfering with your court-ordered visitation, you can file a Petition for Contempt and Enforcement with the family court. In your petition, you can ask the judge to:

• Enforce the existing visitation order
• Hold the noncompliant parent in contempt of court
• Award you make-up visitation time
• Order the other parent to pay your attorney’s fees and court costs
• Impose sanctions such as fines or even jail time for repeated violations

We recommend keeping detailed records of each incident — including missed visits, communication attempts, and any text or email evidence — to strengthen your case.

What If the Current Order Isn’t Working?

Sometimes, interference happens because the current schedule is too vague, impractical, or no longer suits the child’s needs. In that case, you may also want to seek a modification of the visitation order while enforcing your current rights.

At Ryan & Rouse, we’ll help you decide the best legal strategy — whether that’s enforcement, modification, or both.

Don’t Let the Other Parent Take Away Your Time

We understand how painful and frustrating it is when your child is kept from you. You have rights, and Alabama law provides clear remedies when those rights are violated.

📞 Call Ryan & Rouse at (256) 801-1000 today to schedule a consultation about enforcing your visitation rights. Let us help you get the time with your child that you deserve.