when can child say no to visitation

[concernedmomom]

I am a custiodial parent in MO my daughter is 9 can she or will she ever be able to choose not to go to her visitation with her non-custodial dad? His lifestyle is not what she want to be around it includes drinking, numerous guy friends coming around, drugs, trouble with the law and women staying at his house. Our daughter gets very upset and does not want to go to her scheduled visitation. I have made her go kicking and screaming basically for the last 8 years she has been going. Do kids have any say so in there visitation? Is there an age that MO recognizes that a child does not have to go to there visitation? Many things are coming up to be in the way including her friends, school functions etc....Thank you for any answers to this question.
Concerenedmomom

 

[thestepmom]

Kids never have the right to choose between parents. A child can write a letter to a judge, but the judge can either read it or toss it out.
If you don't want your child going because you feel it is unsafe, and unhealthy then you can file for a change in visitation schedule.
You need proof to back up all of your claims though. If you have no proof you could loose what time you have with your daughter, and dad could get more time.

 

[Ginger]

I have another suggestion, Put your daughter with a good counselor for about 6 Months, and see what the counselor says, In mass. they are court ordered to file an abuse 51A if they feel a parent is abusing the child in any way,shape or form. When they do that and you have counselor to testify as to limiting the visits, or going to supervised visits with dad, you have a better shot in court to change the current visitation. Good luck and I'll pray for the two of y ou.