How can I enforce a visitation agreement in NY if the mother keeps breaking it and my daughter is burdened with responsibilities?

Q. I’m the father of a 14-year-old daughter living in The Bronx, New York, with her mother. My daughter doesn’t want to live there anymore because her mother expects her to babysit her siblings, essentially taking on parental responsibilities. We have existing visitation agreements, but the mother keeps breaking them. For example, my daughter was supposed to come to Texas this summer, but her mother refused, stating she had to babysit her siblings. What legal actions can I take to enforce the visitation agreement and address these issues?

A. If you have a specific court order granting you access for this summer, you should file a Violation petition. If your current order is not that specific, then you should file a Modification Petition. You can include in your Modification Petition that you’re looking for primary residential custody, or alternatively a more specific parental access schedule. Call a Bronx Family law attorney for schedule a consult for a full assessment.