I have a thirteen year old daughter and I was just curious if there is a set age that she can decide not to go to her fathers' house. As she has gotten older she is starting to hate going over to his house when it is his weekend. At her age can I legally keep her from him on his weekends? If this is possible is there anything that I need to do? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have a thirteen year old daughter and I was just curious if there is a set age that she can decide not to go to her fathers' house.

Yes...when she's 18. If he's got court ordered visitation and she doesn't go then you can be held in contempt of court and be facing fines, or even jail time. What's the reason she doesn't want to go?

You would have to check with your state guide lines but I think at the age 12 they can decide if they want to go or not.

Thanks. The reason she does not want to go is because he is living with his girlfriend and she has a son a few years younger than my daughter and he seems to be getting more involved with his life than his own daughters. I have tried to talk with him about this and she has too but he will not listen. He thinks we are making a big deal out of nothing. My daughter has gotten to the point that she can not stand being around that boy. This is probably the biggest reason she does not want to go over there anymore.

You can petition the court to have the visitation order modified, but be aware that the courts do not like to deny a parent the right to visit/bond/maintain a relationship with their child and will not do so without a very compelling reason. Merely in my personal opinion, it sounds like Daughter is jealous of Dad’s relationship with this new child in his life. Understandable, maybe, but reason enough for a court to deny this man his right to visitation? Extremely doubtful.

With that said, it’s obviously a situation that needs to be resolved. Talk to Dad again. Be calm and rational and request that he and Daughter attend counseling together. Even if he won’t listen to what you have to say about the situation, it’s possible that he might listen to what a 3rd party has to say.