Texas Just Made Blocking Your Child’s Visits a Felony — What Every DFW Parent Must Know Now

Texas has always taken parental interference with custody seriously. But in 2026, the state took it further: repeated interference with a child custody order is now a state jail felony under Texas law. This is not a warning. It is a criminal charge that can result in jail time and a permanent criminal record.

If you or someone you know has been using delay tactics, last-minute cancellations, or outright refusals to comply with a court-ordered visitation schedule — including supervised visitation — this law applies to you.

What “Interference With Child Custody” Means in Texas

Under Texas Penal Code, a person commits this offense when they take or keep a child in violation of a custody order, or when they entice a child away from the person who has lawful custody. The new “three strikes” escalation means that what once might have resulted in a contempt finding can now result in a felony charge on the third offense.

This includes custodial parents who:

• Refuse to bring the child to scheduled supervised visits
• Cancel repeatedly without valid reason
• Coach the child to refuse visits or claim illness to avoid sessions
• Block the visiting parent’s access to the court-ordered monitor

DFW Courts Are Watching Both Sides

It’s a common misconception that only the visiting parent faces scrutiny in a supervised visitation case. Dallas County, Tarrant County, Collin County, and Denton County family court judges have made it increasingly clear: both parents are expected to comply with the court order. A custodial parent who systematically blocks supervised visitation in Dallas Fort Worth is not protecting their child — they are violating a court order, and courts treat that very seriously.

Professional session records document exactly when sessions happen, when they don’t, and why. That paper trail matters enormously in enforcement and modification hearings.

If You’re the Visiting Parent: What to Do Right Now

If you are being denied access to your court-ordered supervised visits, document everything and contact your family law attorney immediately. Do not retaliate. Do not show up unannounced. Do not confront the other parent. Let the documentation do the work — and let your attorney use the new law to enforce your rights.

How Professional Monitoring Protects Both Parents

At Supervised Connections, we have over 12 years of experience serving families across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Our monitors are background-checked professionals who document every session in neutral, factual detail. We record when sessions occur, when they are canceled, and what happens during each visit. We will testify in court if necessary. That record is your protection regardless of which side of this situation you are on.

We come to you — parks, homes, Chuck E. Cheese, or any appropriate neutral location across DFW. No office required.

Don’t Let a Compliance Failure Define Your Case

Call (682) 651-5408 or contact us online. Whether you need to establish a monitored visit schedule or document a pattern of interference, we can help.