What legal rights does a child have regarding parental visitation?

In the state of Washington, a child is legally entitled to visitation rights with their parent. The Family Law Act of Washington outlines the rights of a parent to visit their child, and the obligation of a custodial parent to provide for reasonable visitation. Visitation rights for noncustodial parents can be established either through agreement between the parents or through a court order. The court order for visitation typically outlines what type of visitation the parent is allowed, such as specifying the times and duration of each visit and stating the conditions of the visits, such as whether visits must be supervised. Additionally, a court order may also specify the responsibilities of each parent during the visit, such as who pays for travel and expenses, who has the right to make decisions regarding the child during the visit, and if the parents have any right to speak with each other during the visit. Regardless of any court orders, the custodial parent is responsible for providing reasonable visitation for the noncustodial parent and for making sure that the noncustodial parent has all the information about the child needed for a meaningful visit. The noncustodial parent also has the right to be consulted in decisions regarding the child’s education, health, and religious upbringing. In Washington, the court has the option of denying or limiting visitations if the court finds that visitation is not in the child’s best interest. Factors the court may consider include any past or present evidence of abuse, the parent’s ability to provide a safe and secure environment, the parent’s history of visitation and cooperation with the custodial parent, and the child’s preference.

What legal rights does a child have regarding parental visitation?

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