What is Gatekeeping?

When a child refuses or resists contact with one of the parents, many things may be going on and it’s important to get the right professionals involved to investigate and determine how best to help.  

Family Code §3028 states that "The court may order financial compensation … when a parent has been thwarted by the other parent when attempting to exercise custody or visitation rights contemplated by a custody or visitation order.

There are three types of gatekeeping:

Restrictive gatekeeping is when a parent puts barriers to facilitating the other parents time and involvement not for good cause or in bad faith.

Protective gatekeeping is when a parent restricts parenting time and involvement for good cause – such as abuse, neglect, or instability

Facilitative gatekeeping is when a parent actively promots the involvement of the other parent in parenting.