When can the judge deny visitation rights?

As noted above, visitation will be denied when there is evidence of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by the non-custodial parent. If the non-custodial parent is a child molester, judges will not hesitate to deny visitation and potentially relinquish all parental rights.

In some cases, visitation rights will be denied if the judge believes that the non-custodial parent intends to kidnap the child and disappear, either within the United States or to some foreign country. It is more likely, however, that the judge will order supervised visitation (see above) in this type of case, unless absolute proof of intentions to kidnap is evident.