Can a Parent Refuse Visitation in Arkansas?

Child custody and visitation disputes can be difficult, especially when parents disagree about when or how a child should spend time with the other parent. If you have concerns about your child's safety or the other parent's behavior, you may wonder whether you can refuse visitation.

In Arkansas, parents are generally expected to follow the terms of a court-ordered custody or visitation schedule. A parent cannot simply deny visitation because of a disagreement with the other parent. However, if circumstances have changed or there are serious concerns about a child's safety, legal options exist for modifying or restricting visitation.

When Can Visitation Be Denied in Arkansas?

If a court has ordered visitation, both parents are expected to follow that order. A parent generally cannot decide on their own to deny the other parent's visitation simply because they are unhappy with the other parent or disagree with the custody arrangement.

Arkansas courts make custody and visitation decisions based on the best interests of the child. Arkansas law provides that a parent who does not have sole, primary, or joint custody is entitled to reasonable parenting time unless the court finds, after a hearing, that parenting time would seriously endanger the child's physical, mental, or emotional health.

If you believe the current visitation schedule is no longer appropriate, you should generally seek a modification of the existing order rather than refusing visitation on your own.

Can I Refuse Visitation If the Other Parent Does Not Pay Child Support?

Child support and visitation are two separate issues. If the other parent is behind on child support, that does not mean you can automatically withhold their visitation. Likewise, if you are being denied visitation, you generally should not stop paying child support because of it.

If the other parent is not following a court order, there are legal ways to address the situation. Instead of withholding visitation or child support, you can ask the court to enforce the order or take other appropriate action based on the facts of your case.

What If I Believe My Child Is in Danger?

Serious safety concerns can change the situation. If you believe your child is at risk because of abuse, neglect, substance abuse, domestic violence, or another serious concern, it is important to take those concerns seriously.

Depending on the circumstances, you can seek to have the court restrict or modify visitation. Arkansas law also provides a limited affirmative defense to a prosecution for interference with visitation when a person withholds visitation to protect a child from imminent physical harm, provided the custodial parent's belief that the harm was imminent and the response to that danger were both reasonable. See Ark. Code § 5-26-501(c)(1) (2025).

In an emergency, you may also need to seek immediate legal assistance or contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Can Visitation Be Changed or Restricted?

If circumstances have changed or you believe the current visitation arrangement is no longer in your child's best interests, you can ask the court to modify the existing order. Arkansas courts generally require the parent seeking a change in visitation to show a material change in circumstances that warrants modification, with the child's best interests

remaining the primary consideration.

The court can modify the visitation schedule or impose conditions or restrictions when supported by the facts and applicable law. If you are considering a change to your custody or visitation arrangement, an Arkansas family law attorney can review your situation and explain your legal options.

What Happens If a Parent Violates a Visitation Order?

If a parent repeatedly refuses to follow a court-ordered visitation schedule, the other parent can ask the court to enforce the order. They can also ask that the violating parent be held in contempt, which may require that the parent who violated the court order be sanctioned with fines or jai time and that they be required to pay attorney fees.

Further, Arkansas law recognizes interference with visitation as a criminal offense when a person knowingly takes, entices, or keeps a child from someone who has a court-ordered right to visitation. If a parent believes that the other parent is interfering with their visitation or custody, they can contact the local prosecuting attorney's office to press charges.

If you are dealing with a visitation dispute, it can be helpful to keep records of:

• Dates and times when visitation was denied

• Text messages, emails, or other communications

• Attempts to exercise scheduled visitation

• Reasons given for denying visitation

• Other violations of the custody or visitation order

Keeping accurate records can help provide a clear picture of what has occurred if the matter needs to be addressed in court.

What Should I Do If the Other Parent Is Refusing Visitation?

If the other parent is refusing to follow a court-ordered visitation schedule, avoid taking matters into your own hands. Review your custody order, document what is happening, and consider speaking with an Arkansas family law attorney about your options.

The appropriate response will depend on the language of your custody order and the facts of your situation. A family law attorney can help you determine whether to seek enforcement, modification, or other relief from the court.

Don't Ignore a Visitation Dispute

Whether you are being denied visitation or have serious concerns about your child's safety, understanding your rights and responsibilities is important. Simply refusing to follow a custody order can create additional legal problems, while serious safety concerns may require action through the court.

If you are dealing with a custody or visitation dispute, an Arkansas family law attorney can help you understand your options and determine the appropriate next steps.

Do you have questions about child custody or visitation in Arkansas? Call ARlaw Partners today.