Denial of parenting time is the refusal or failure to allow scheduled court-ordered time without legal justification. It is a violation of the court order and it is a basis for enforcement, contempt, and potentially modification of the parenting arrangement.

The denying parent bears the burden of showing that the denial was legally justified. Mere unhappiness with the other parent, unsubstantiated safety concerns, or the child's stated reluctance are generally not adequate justification.

A parent who denies parenting time without justification and then argues that the child does not want to go is in a difficult position. This does become a very traumatic and difficult situation when the child does not want to visit an angry, demanding, or unpleasant or abusive parent.