Skip to main content

Template

Denied Visitation Log

A denied visitation log is a same-day note of parenting time that was scheduled and did not happen, or that was cut short. Write what the schedule said, what happened instead, and where the proof is. Whether that note matters in a hearing is a question for your lawyer. This page is a format, not legal advice.

What to record

Use the same fields every time. A single missed evening can look like a bad day. The same fields, filled in for months, are easier for you and your lawyer to review.

  1. Date and the scheduled window. Write the full date and what the order or written agreement called for. "Friday at 6:00 p.m. through Sunday at 6:00 p.m." is useful. "My weekend" is not.
  2. What actually happened. Include the time you learned about the change, the exact words if you have them, and whether the child went with you.
  3. Where you were. If you went to the exchange spot, say when you arrived and when you left. If you stayed home because of a written refusal, say that.
  4. Who was present. Name adults. Do not interview the child for the log.
  5. Time missed. "The weekend did not happen" or "pickup was 40 minutes late" is clearer than "always late."
  6. Notice and follow-up. Note whether anyone told you ahead of time, and the neutral message you sent after.
  7. Proof. Screenshot, email, photo of the location, or the name of a witness. Say the file name so you can find it later.

Also log the exchanges that go as planned. A file that only lists problems is harder to trust. The longer guide on how to keep a custody journal covers that habit. This page stays on missed or refused time.

Sample row (fictional)

Parent A, Parent B, and the child are labels. This is not a real family or a real case.

Date
March 6, 2026
Scheduled time
Friday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 6:00 p.m., school parking lot
What happened
Parent A arrived at 5:50 p.m. At 5:40 p.m. Parent B texted: "We are not coming tonight." The child did not come. No makeup time was offered.
Who was present
Parent A at the parking lot. Parent B was not there.
Time missed
The weekend did not happen.
Follow-up
Text at 6:10 p.m.: "I am at the school parking lot for the scheduled pickup. Please confirm makeup time."
Proof saved
Screenshot named 2026-03-06-text.png. Photo of the parking lot at 6:05 p.m.

Blank log

Print the page or copy the fields into a notebook. Leave a line blank if you do not know. Do not guess a time and present it as exact.

Entry 1

Date
Scheduled time and place
What the order or agreement said
What happened
Who was present
Time missed
Notice you received
Follow-up you sent
Proof saved

Entry 2

Date
Scheduled time and place
What the order or agreement said
What happened
Who was present
Time missed
Notice you received
Follow-up you sent
Proof saved

Keep the log where you will still use it next month

Paper works tonight. Custody Journal keeps the same kind of note with the date, the message, and the photo in one entry, including the weekends that went fine. No one else has to open an account.

Start a free journal

Common questions

Should I log a visit that was only partly missed?

Yes. Write the scheduled window and the actual window. "Arrived 6:40 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. pickup" is a complete note. You do not have to call it a violation. Your lawyer can decide what the pattern means.

Can I write how upset I was?

Put that somewhere else. The log should still make sense to a person who was not there. Exact words from a text belong in the log. Insults and guesses about motive do not.

What if going to the exchange was unsafe?

Do not go. Write why you stayed away, in facts, and save the messages. Safety decisions are not something this page can make for you.