What is self-help?
Self-help refers to a person acting on their own to enforce what they think are their rights are instead of going through the court process.
What are some common examples that show up in family court?
Judges often criticize self-help when a parent:
Withholds a child from the other parent violating custody order
Changes parenting time unilaterally
Refuses visitation due to so-called wrongdoing by the other parent
Relocates the child without court permission
Punishes the other parent by ignoring court orders
How do judges feel about self-help?
The court does not condone self-help remedies. They believe that the proper approach is to bring a motion before the court.