What can I do if the other parent denies my parenting time in Ohio?

If the court finds contempt

In addition to any other penalty, the court must assess all court costs of the contempt proceeding against the person found in contempt and require that person to pay the adverse party’s reasonable attorney’s fees arising from the contempt. It may also award reasonable compensatory parenting time if that is in the child’s best interest (R.C. 3109.051(K)).

Penalties under R.C. 2705.05(A) range from a fine of not more than $250, up to 30 days in jail, or both for a first offense, to not more than $1,000, up to 90 days, or both for a third or later offense. The court must hold a hearing first.

Custody consequences

Whether the residential parent, or a parent under a shared parenting decree, has continuously and willfully denied the other parent’s court-ordered parenting time is a best interest factor in allocating parental rights (R.C. 3109.04(F)(1)(i)).

Keep a record

Write down each missed exchange the same day, with the date, time, place, and what was said, and save related messages in full so you can authenticate them at a hearing.